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Copyright, 190a 
By J. B. Lippincott Company 

Published December, 1902 


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TO THE DEAR AND 
BLESSED MEMORY OF 

MY FATHER 

“ ‘ He rests from his labors and 
his works do follow himGod 
grant us the same honor and the 
same repose 




PREFACE 

* 

Most persons know, through experience 
and observation, how difficult it is for persons 
weakened in body and mind by illness to 
find Bible passages suited to their state or 
to recall suitable passages, hymns, or prayers 
when such words would be a support and 
comfort. This is an attempt to collect these 
thoughts into a convenient and accessible 
form, and it is offered in hope that it may 
be of service to Christians called to bear the 
cross of sickness. 









I 


p>rayet-0 anti C^oug^tis 
for ttye cajse of t^e 




PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS 

FOR 

THE USE OF THE SICK 

¥¥ 

PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE 

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not 
consumed, because his compassions fail not. 
They are new every morning; great is thy 
faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith 
my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The 
Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to 
the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a 
man should both hope and quietly wait for 
the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a 
man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He 
sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he 
hath borne it upon him. He putteth his 
mouth in the dust; if so be there may be 
hope. He giveth his cheek to him that 
smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. 
For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But 
though he cause grief, yet will he have com¬ 
passion according to the multitude of his 
mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, 
nor grieve the children of men. (Lamenta¬ 
tions, 3.) 


11 


12 


Prayers and Thoughts 


In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let 
me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in 
thy righteousness, and cause me to escape : 
incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be 
thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may 
continually resort: thou hast given command¬ 
ment to save me; for thou art my rock and 
my fortress. For thou art my hope, O Lord 
God : thou art my trust from my youth. O 
God, be not far from me: O my God, make 
haste for my help. But I will hope con¬ 
tinually, and will yet praise thee more and 
more. My mouth shall shew forth thy right¬ 
eousness and thy salvation all the day; for I 
know not the numbers thereof. I will go in 
the strength of the Lord God : I will make 
mention of thy righteousness, even of thine 
only. O God, thou hast taught me from my 
youth : and hitherto have I declared thy won¬ 
drous works. Now also when I am old and 
grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I 
have shewed thy strength unto this genera¬ 
tion, and thy power to every one that is to 
come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is 
very high, who hast done great things: O 
God, who is like unto thee ! Thou, which 
hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt 



for the Use of the Sick 


*3 


quicken me again, and shalt bring me up 
again from the depths of the earth. Thou 
shalt increase my greatness, and comfort 
me on every side. I will also praise thee 
with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God : 
unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou 
Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly 
rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, 
which thou hast redeemed. (Psalm 71.) 

For our light affliction, which is but for a 
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding 
and eternal weight of glory; while we look 
not at the things which are seen, but at the 
things which are not seen: for the things 
which are seen are temporal; but the things 
which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corin¬ 
thians, 4.) 

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, 
saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an ever¬ 
lasting love: therefore with lovingkindness 
have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah, 31.) 

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with 
silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of 
affliction. (Isaiah, 48.) 



H 


Prayers and Thoughts 


When he was come down from the moun¬ 
tain, great multitudes followed him. And, 
behold, there came a leper and worshipped 
him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst 
make me clean. And Jesus put forth his 
hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be 
thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was 
cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See 
thou tell no man ; but go thy way, shew thy¬ 
self to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses 
commanded, for a testimony unto them. And 
when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there 
came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 
and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home 
sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And 
Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal 
him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, 
I am not worthy that thou shouldest come 
under my roof: but speak the word only, and 
my servant shall be healed. For I am a man 
under authority, having soldiers under me: 
and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth ; and 
to another, Come, and he cometh ; and to 
my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When 
Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them 
that followed, Verily, I say unto you, I have 
not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And 



for the Use of the Sick 


15 


I say unto you, That many shall come from 
the east and west, and shall sit down with 
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the king¬ 
dom of heaven: but the children of the 
kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness : 
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy 
way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it done 
unto thee. And his servant was healed in the 
selfsame hour. And when Jesus was come 
into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother 
laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her 
hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, 
and ministered unto them. (Matthew, 8.) 

Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for 
he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn 
thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for 
I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of 
my heart are enlarged : O bring thou me out 
of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction 
and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 
(Psalm 25.) 

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten : 
be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revela- 
tion, 3.) 



i6 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed 
about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin 
which doth so easily beset us, and let us 
run with patience the race that is set before 
us, looking unto Jesus the author and fin¬ 
isher of our faith; who for the joy that was 
set before him endured the cross, despising 
the shame, and is set down at the right hand 
of the throne of God. For consider him 
that endured such contradiction of sinners 
against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint 
in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto 
blood, striving against sin. And ye have for¬ 
gotten the exhortation which speaketh unto 
you as unto children, My son, despise not thou 
the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou 
art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord 
loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son 
whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, 
God dealeth with you as with sons ; for what 
son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof 
all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and 
not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers 
of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave 
them reverence : shall we not much rather be 



for the Use of the Sick 


17 


in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and 
live? For they verily for a few days chas¬ 
tened us after their own pleasure ; but he for 
our profit, that we might be partakers of his 
holiness. Now no chastening for the present 
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: neverthe¬ 
less afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit 
of righteousness unto them which are exer¬ 
cised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands 
which hang down, and the feeble knees; And 
make straight paths for your feet, lest that 
which is lame be turned out of the way; but 
let it rather be healed. (Hebrews, 12.) 

O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath : 
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 
For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy 
hand presseth me sore. I am feeble and sore 
broken: I have roared by reason of the dis¬ 
quietness of my heart. Lord, all my desire 
is before thee; and my groaning is not hid 
from thee. My heart panteth, my strength 
faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it 
also is gone from me. Forsake me not, O 
Lord: O my God, be not far from me. 
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. 
(Psalm 38.) 


2 



i8 


Prayers and Thoughts 


After this there was a feast of the Jews; 
and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there 
is at Jerusalem by the sheep-market a pool, 
which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, 
having five porches. In these lay a great 
multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, 
withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 
For an angel went down at a certain season 
into the pool, and troubled the water; who¬ 
soever then first after the troubling of the 
water stepped in was made whole of whatso¬ 
ever disease he had. And a certain man was 
there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight 
years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew 
that he had been now a long time in that case, 
he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ? 
The impotent man answered, Sir, I have no 
man, when the water is troubled, to put me 
into the pool: but while I am coming another 
steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto 
him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And 
immediately the man was made whole, and 
took up his bed, and walked. (John, 5.) 

Lord, in trouble have they visited thee; 
they poured out a prayer when thy chastening 
was upon them. (Isaiah, 26.) 



for the Use of the Sick 


*9 


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant 
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively 
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 
the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, 
and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, re¬ 
served in heaven for you, who are kept by 
the power of God through faith unto salvation, 
ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein 
ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if 
need be) ye are in heaviness through mani¬ 
fold temptations: that the trial of your faith, 
being much more precious than of gold that 
perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might 
be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, 
at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having 
seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see 
him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy 
unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the 
end of your faith, even the salvation of your 
souls, (i Peter, i.) 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 
so are my ways higher than your ways, and 
my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah, 55.) 



20 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Beloved, think it not strange concerning 
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though 
some strange thing happened unto you : but 
rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s 
sufferings ; that, when his glory shall be re¬ 
vealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding 
joy. Wherefore let them that suffer according 
to the will of God commit the keeping of 
their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a 
faithful Creator, (i Peter, 4.) 

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my 
supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, 
and in thy righteousness. And enter not 
into judgment with thy servant: for in thy 
sight shall no man living be justified. For 
the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath 
smitten my life down to the ground ; he hath 
made me to dwell in darkness, as those that 
have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit 
overwhelmed within me; my heart within me 
is desolate. I remember the days of old ; I 
meditate on all thy works; I muse on the 
work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands 
unto thee; my soul thirsteth after thee, as a 
thirsty land. Hear me speedily, O Lord: 
my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, 



for the Use of the Sick 


21 


lest I be like unto them that go down into the 
pit. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in 
the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause 
me to know the way wherein I should walk; 
for I lift up my soul unto thee. Quicken me, 
O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy right¬ 
eousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. 
(Psalm 143.) 

For thus saith the high and lofty One that 
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I 
dwell in the high and holy place, with him 
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to 
revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive 
the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not 
contend for ever, neither will I be always 
wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, 
and the souls which I have made. For the 
iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and 
smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and 
he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. 
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I 
will lead him also, and restore comforts unto 
him and to his mourners. I create the fruit 
of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far 
off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; 
and I will heal him. (Isaiah, 57.) 



22 


Prayers and Thoughts 


In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me 
never be ashamed: deliver me in thy right¬ 
eousness. Bow down thine ear to me ; de¬ 
liver me speedily : be thou my strong rock, 
for an house of defence to save me. For thou 
art my rock and my fortress : therefore for thy 
name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Into 
thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast re¬ 
deemed me, O Lord God of truth. I will be 
glad and rejoice in thy mercy ; for thou hast 
considered my trouble; thou hast known my 
soul in adversities; have mercy upon me, O 
Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is con¬ 
sumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 
For my life is spent with grief, and my years 
with sighing: my strength faileth because of 
mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 
I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but 
especially among my neighbours and a fear to 
mine acquaintance : they that did see me with¬ 
out fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead 
man out of mind : I am like a broken vessel. 
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: 
save me for thy mercies’ sake. (Psalm 31.) 

Be not far from me; for trouble is near ; 
for there is none to help. (Psalm 22.) 



for the Use of the Sick 


23 


O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, 
neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 
Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am 
weak; 0 Lord, heal me; for my bones are 
vexed; My soul is also sore vexed; but 
thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, 
deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mer¬ 
cies’ sake. For in death there is no remem¬ 
brance of thee: in the grave who shall 
give thee thanks ? I am weary with r_iy 
groaning; all the night make I my bed to 
swim; I water my couch with my tears. The 
Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord 
will receive my prayer. (Psalm 6.) 

How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? 
for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face 
from me ? how long shall I take counsel in my 
soul, having sorrow in my heart daily ? how 
long shall mine enemy be exalted over me ? 
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: 
lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of 
death. (Psalm 13.) 

Call upon me in the day of trouble : I 
will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. 
(Psalm 50.) 



2 4 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried 
our sorrows : yet we did esteem him stricken, 
smitten of God and afflicted. But he was 
wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised 
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our 
peace was upon him ; and with his stripes we 
are healed. All we like sheep have gone 
astray; we have turned every one to his own 
way; and the Lord hath laid on him the 
iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he 
was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: 
he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and 
as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he 
openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah, 53.) 

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry 
come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me 
in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine 
ear unto me : in the day when I call answer 
me speedily. For my days are consumed like 
smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. 
My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; 
so that I forget to eat my bread. By reason 
of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave 
to my skin. I am like a pelican of the wilder¬ 
ness : I am like an owl of the desert. I 
watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the 



for the Use of the Sick 


2 5 


house-top. He weakened my strength in the 
way; he shortened my days. I said, O my 
God, take me not away in the midst of my 
days : thy years are throughout all generations. 
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the 
earth: and the heavens are the work of thy 
hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt 
endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a 
garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, 
and they shall be changed: but thou art the 
same, and thy years shall have no end. 
(Psalm 102.) 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from 
whence cometh my help. My help cometh 
from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he 
that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, 
he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor 
sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is 
thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun 
shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon 
by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from 
all evil : he shall preserve thy soul. The 
Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy 
coming in, from this time forth, and even for 
evermore. ( Psalm 121.) 



26 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried 
day and night before thee : let my prayer 
come before thee: incline thine ear unto 
my cry; for my soul is full of troubles : and 
my life draweth nigh unto the grave. I am 
counted with them that go down into the 
pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: 
free among the dead, like the slain that lie in 
the grave, whom thou rememberest no more : 
and they are cut off from thy hand. Thou 
hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, 
in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon 
me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy 
waves. Thou hast put away mine acquaint¬ 
ance far from me; thou hast made me an 
abomination unto them : I am shut up, and 
I cannot come forth. Mine eye mourneth by 
reason of affliction: Lord, I have called 
daily upon thee, I have stretched out my 
hands unto thee. Wilt thou shew wonders 
to the dead? shall the dead rise and praise 
thee ? Shall thy loving-kindness be declared 
in the grave ? or thy faithfulness in destruc¬ 
tion? Shall thy wonders be known in the 
dark? and thy righteousness in the land of 
forgetfulness? But unto thee have I cried, 
O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer 



for the Use of the Sick 


27 


prevent thee. Lord, why castest thou off my 
soul ? why hidest thou thy face from me ? I 
am afflicted and ready to die from my youth 
up : while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. 
Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors 
have cut me off. They came round about me 
daily like water; they compassed me about 
together. Lover and friend hast thou put far 
from me, and mine acquaintance into dark¬ 
ness. (Psalm 88.) 

The Lord is my light and my salvation; 
whom shall I fear ? the Lord is the strength 
of my life; of whom shall I be afraid ? Hear, 
O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have 
mercy also upon me, and answer me. When 
thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said 
unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide 
not thy face from me; put not thy servant 
away in anger: thou hast been my help: 
leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of 
my salvation. I had fainted, unless I had 
believed to see the goodness of the Lord in 
the land of the living. Wait on the Lord: 
be of good courage, and he shall strengthen 
thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 
27.) 



28 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Seeing then that we have a great high 
priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus 
the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
For we have not an high priest which cannot 
be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; 
but was in all points tempted like as we are, 
yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly 
unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain 
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 
(Hebrews, 4.) 

There were present at that season some that 
told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate 
had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus 
answering, said unto them, Suppose ye that 
these Galileans were sinners above all the 
Galileans, because they suffered such things ? 
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye 
shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, 
upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew 
them, think ye that they were sinners above 
all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ? I tell you, 
Nay : but, except ye repent, ye shall all like¬ 
wise perish. He spake also this parable ; a 
certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vine¬ 
yard ; and he came and sought fruit thereon, 
and found none. Then said he unto the 



for the Use of the Sick 


29 


dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three 
years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree and 
find none : cut it down; why cumbereth it 
the ground? And he answering, said unto 
him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till 
I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it 
bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that 
thou shalt cut it down. (Luke, 13.) 

For which cause we faint not; but though our 
outward man perish, yet the inward man is 
renewed day by day. For our light affliction, 
which is but for a moment, worketh for us a 
far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory; while we look not at the things which 
are seen, but at the things which are not seen : 
for the things which are seen are temporal; 
but the things which are not seen are eternal. 
(2 Corinthians, 4.) 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, 
thou wilt revive me : thou shalt stretch forth 
thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, 
and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord 
will perfect that which concerneth me: thy 
mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not 
the works of thine own hands. (Psalm 138.) 



3° 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have 
spoken in the name of the Lord, for an ex¬ 
ample of suffering affliction, and of patience. 
Behold, we count them happy which endure. 
Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and 
have seen the end of the Lord : that the Lord 
is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James, 
5 -) 

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; 
but with great mercies will I gather thee. In 
a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a 
moment; but with everlasting kindness will 
I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy 
Redeemer. For this is as the waters of Noah 
unto me : for as I have sworn that the waters 
of Noah should no more go over the earth; 
so have I sworn that I would not be wroth 
with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the moun¬ 
tains shall depart, and the hills be removed; 
but my kindness shall not depart from thee, 
neither shall the covenant of my peace be 
removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on 
thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, 
and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy 
stones with fair colours, and lay thy founda¬ 
tions with sapphires. And I will make thy 



for the Use of the Sick 


3 1 


windows of agates, and thy gates of carbun¬ 
cles and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 
And all thy children shall be taught of the 
Lord ; and great shall be the peace of thy 
children. In righteousness shalt thou be 
established: thou shalt be far from oppres¬ 
sion ; for thou shalt not fear : and from terror; 
for it shall not come near thee. (Isaiah, 54.) 

He giveth power to the faint; and to them 
that have no might he increaseth strength. 
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and 
the young men shall utterly fall: but they 
that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
strength; they shall mount up with wings as 
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; 
and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah, 40.) 

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me : O 
Lord, make haste to help me. But I am poor 
and needy ; yet the Lord thinketh upon me : 
thou art my help and my deliverer; make no 
tarrying, O my God. (Psalm 40.) 

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day 
of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust 
in him. (Nahum, 1.) 



32 


Prayers and Thoughts 


As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, 
so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My 
soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: 
when shall I come and appear before God ? 
My tears have been my meat day and night, 
while they continually say unto me, Where is 
thy God ? When I remember these things I 
pour out my soul in me : for I had gone with 
the multitude, I went with them to the house 
of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with 
a multitude that kept holy-day. Why art thou 
cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou dis¬ 
quieted in me ? hope thou in God: for I 
shall yet praise him for the help of his coun¬ 
tenance. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise 
of thy water-spouts: all thy waves and thy 
billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will 
command his loving-kindness in the daytime, 
and in the night his song shall be with me, 
and my prayer unto the God of my life. I 
will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou 
forgotten me? why go I mourning because 
of the oppression of the enemy? Why art 
thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou 
disquieted within me ? hope thou in God: 
for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of 
my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 42.) 



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33 


The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to 
anger, and plenteous in mercy. Like as a 
father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth 
them that fear him. (Psalm 103.) 

Fear thou not; for I am with thee : be not 
dismayed ; for I am thy God : I will strengthen 
thee; yea, I will help thee; I will uphold 
thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

». (Isaiah, 41.) 

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy 
One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye 
be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall 
be your strength. (Isaiah, 30.) 

There hath no temptation taken you but 
such as is common to man : but God is faith¬ 
ful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
above that ye are able; but will with the 
temptation also make a way to escape, that 
ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians, 10.) 

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, 
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus 
Christ, who died for us, that, whether we 
wake or sleep, we should live together with 
him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, 
and edify one another, even as also ye do. 
(1 Thessalonians, 5.) 


3 



34 


Prayers and Thoughts 


PASSAGES OF POETRY 

Ill that He blesses is our good, 

And unblessed good is ill: 

And all is right that seems most wrong, 

If it be His sweet will. 

— Faber. 

O Thou whose mercy guides my way, 
Though now it seem severe, 

Forbid my unbelief to say 
There is no mercy here ! 

Oh ! may I, Lord, desire the pain 
That comes in kindness down, 

Far more than sweetest earthly gain, 
Succeeded by a frown. 

Then though Thou bend my spirit low, 

Love only shall I see; 

The gracious hand that strikes the blow 
Was wounded once for me. 

— Edmeston. 

Why should I murmur or repine, 

O Lamb of God, who bled for me ? 

What are my griefs, compared with Thine,— 
Thy tears, Thy groans, Thine agony ! 



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If Thou the furnace dost employ, 

Thou sittest as refiner near 

To purge away the base alloy, 

Till Thine own image bright appear. 

Submissive would I kiss the rod, 

Needful each stroke, I humbly own: 

Help me trust Thee, O my God ! 

If now Thy wisdom be unknown. 

— Macduff. 

When languor and disease invade 
This trembling house of clay, 

’Tis sweet to look beyond my pain, 

And long to fly away; 

Sweet to look inward, and attend 
The whispers of His love; 

Sweet to look upward to the place 
Where Jesus pleads above; 

Sweet, in the confidence of faith, 

To trust His firm decrees; 

Sweet to lie passive in His hands, 

And know no will but His. 

If such the sweetness of the streams, 
What must the fountain be 

Where saints and angels draw their bliss 
Immediately from Thee ! 


Toplady. 



36 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Jesus, Lover of my soul, 

Let me to Thy bosom fly, 

While the nearer waters roll, 

While the tempest still is high; 
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, 

Till the storm of life is past; 

Safe into the haven guide : 

Oh, receive my soul at last! 

Other refuge have I none; 

Hangs my helpless soul on Thee : 
Leave, ah ! leave me not alone; 

Still support and comfort me : 

All my trust on Thee is stayed, 

All my help from Thee I bring; 
Cover my defenceless head 

With the shadow of Thy wing. 

— Charles Wesley. 

Sovereign Ruler of the skies, 

Ever gracious, ever wise ! 

All my times are in Thy hand; 

All events at Thy command. 

Times of sickness, times of health, 
Times of penury and wealth,— 

All must come, and last, and end, 

As shall please my heavenly Friend. 

— Ryland. 



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And wilt Thou now forsake me, Lord ? 

I feel it cannot be; 

No earthly tongue can ever tell 
What Thou hast been to me. 

Through all the changing scenes of life 
Thy love hath sheltered me; 

And wilt Thou now forget Thy child ? 

I feel it cannot be. 

In life or death, I take my stand 
Where I have ever stood, 

Beneath the shelter of Thy cross, 

And trusting in Thy blood. 

And then, when youth and health and 
strength 

And energy have fled, 

The shades of evening peacefully 
Shall close around my head. 

And when in all the helplessness 
Of death I turn to Thee, 

Thou wilt not then forsake me, Lord ! 

I feel it cannot be. 


— Unknown. 



38 


Prayers and Thoughts 


My spirit on Thy care, 

Blest Saviour, I recline; 

Thou wilt not leave me to despair, 
For Thou art Love divine. 


In Thee I place my trust; 

On Thee I calmly rest: 

I know Thee good, I know Thee just, 
And count Thy choice the best. 

Let good or ill befall, 

It must be good for me,— 

Secure of having Thee in all, 

Of having all in Thee. 

—Henry Francis Lyte. 


Lord, it belongs not to my care, 
Whether I die or live; 

To love and serve Thee is my share, 
And this Thy grace must give. 

If life be long, I will be glad 
That I may long obey; 

If short, yet why should I be sad 
To soar to endless day ? 



for the Use of the Sick 


39 


Christ leads me through no darker rooms 
Than He went through before; 

No one into His kingdom comes, 

But through His opened door. 

Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet 
Thy blessed face to see ; 

For if Thy work on earth be sweet, 

What will Thy glory be ! 

Then shall I end my sad complaints, 

And weary sinful days, 

And join with all triumphant saints 
Who sing Jehovah’s praise. 

My knowledge of that life is small; 

The eye of faith is dim; 

But ’t is enough that Christ knows all, 

And I shall be with Him. 

— Baxter. 


God is the refuge of His saints, 

When storms of sharp distress invade; 
Ere we can offer our complaints, 

Behold Him present with His aid. 

— Watts. 



4 o 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Saviour ! happy would I be, 

If I could but trust in Thee ; 

Trust Thy wisdom me to guide; 

Trust Thy goodness to provide ; 

Trust Thy saving love and power; 

Trust Thee every day and hour: 

Trust Thee as the only light 
In the darkest hour of night; 

Trust in sickness, trust in health; 

Trust in poverty and wealth; 

Trust in joy, and trust in grief; 

Trust Thy promise for relief: 

Trust Thy blood to cleanse my soul; 
Trust Thy grace to make me whole; 
Trust Thee living, dying too ; 

Trust Thee all my journey through ; 
Trust Thee till my feet shall be 
Planted on the crystal sea ! 

—Edwin H. Nevin. 

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, 
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! 
What more can He say than to you He hath 
said, 

To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled :— 



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4 l 


“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dis¬ 
mayed ; 

For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid; 
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee 
to stand, 

Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.” 

* * When through the deep waters I call thee 
to go, 

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; 

For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless, 
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.” 

— Kirkham. 

Jesus, in sickness and in pain, 

Be near to succor me ; 

My sinking spirit still sustain : 

To Thee I turn, to Thee. 

When cares and sorrows thicken round, 
And nothing bright I see, 

In Thee alone can help be found; 

To Thee I turn, to Thee. 

Through all my pilgrimage below, 
Whate’er my lot may be, 

In joy or sadness, weal or woe, 

Jesus, I’ll turn to Thee. 

— Gallaudet. 



42 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Thou very present Aid 
In suffering and distress, 

The soul which still on Thee is stayed, 

Is kept in perfect peace. 

Jesus, to whom I fly, 

Doth all my wishes fill: 

What though created streams are dry ? 

I have the fountain still. 

— Charles Wesley. 


Let me but hear my Saviour say, 

“ Strength shall be equal to thy day,” 
Then I rejoice in deep distress, 

Leaning on all-sufficient grace. 

I can do all things—or can bear 
All suffering, if my Lord be there; 
Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains, 
While He my sinking head sustains. 

I glory in infirmity, 

That Christ’s own power may rest on me ; 
When I am weak, then am I strong; 
Grace is my shield, and Christ my song. 

— Watts. 



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“ My times are in Thy hand 
My God ! I wish them there ; 

My life, my friends, my soul, I leave 
Entirely to Thy care. 

“ My times are in Thy hand,” 
Whatever they may be ; 

Pleasing or painful, dark or bright, 

As best may seem to Thee. 

“ My times are in Thy hand 
Why should I doubt or fear ? 

My Father’s hand will never cause 
His child a needless tear. 

—Lloyd. 


I cannot always trace the way 

Where Thou, Almighty One, dost move; 
But I can always, always say 
That God is love. 

When mystery clouds my darkened path, 
I’ll check my dread, my doubts reprove; 
In this my soul sweet comfort hath, 

That God is love. 


—Sir John Bowring. 



44 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Along my earthly way 

How many clouds are spread ! 
Darkness, with scarce one cheerful ray, 
Seems gathering o’er my head. 


Yet, Father, Thou art Love; 

Oh, hide not from my view ! 

But when I look, in prayer, above, 
Appear in mercy through ! 


My pathway is not hid ; 

Thou knowest all my need; 
And I would do as Israel did,— 
Follow where Thou wilt lead. 


Lead me, and then my feet 
Shall never, never stray; 

But safely I shall reach the seat 
Of happiness and day. 


And, oh ! from that bright throne 
I shall look back, and see,— 

The path I went, and that alone, 

Was the right path for me. 

— Edmeston. 



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God is love ; His mercy brightens 
All the path in which we rove; 

Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens : 
God is wisdom, God is love. 

Ev’n the hour that darkest seemeth 
Will His changeless goodness prove; 
From the gloom His brightness streameth : 
God is wisdom, God is love. 

—Sir John Bowring. 


The pity of the Lord, 

To those that fear His name, 

Is such as tender parents feel: 

He knows our feeble frame. 

Our days are as the grass, 

Or like the morning flower ; 

If one sharp blast sweep o’er the field, 
It withers in an hour. 

But Thy compassions, Lord, 

To endless years endure ; 

And children’s children ever find 
Thy words of promise sure. 

— Wafts. 



4 6 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Since all the varying scenes of time 
God’s watchful eye surveys. 

Oh, who so wise to choose our lot, 

Or to appoint our ways ! 

Good, when He gives, supremely good ; 
Nor loss when He denies : 

Ev’n crosses, from His sovereign hand, 
Are blessings in disguise. 

Why should we doubt a father’s love, 

So constant and so kind ! 

To His unerring, gracious will 
Be every wish resigned. 

— Hervey. 

O Lord, my best desire fulfil, 

And help me to resign 

Life, health, and comfort to Thy will, 
And make Thy pleasure mine. 

Why should I shrink at Thy command, 
Whose love forbids my fears ? 

Or tremble at the gracious hand 
That wipes away my tears ? 

No. Rather let me freely yield 
What most I prize to Thee, 

Who never hast a good withheld, 

Or wilt withhold, from me. 



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47 


Thy favor, all my journey through, 

Thou art engaged to grant: 

What else I want, or think I do, 

’Tis better still to want. 

— Cowper. 

My God, my Father, while I stray 
Far from my home, on life’s rough way, 
Oh, teach me from my heart to say, 

‘* Thy will be done ! ’ * 

Should grief or sickness waste away 
My life in premature decay, 

My Father ! still I strive to say, 

1 * Thy will be done ! ’ ’ 

If but my fainting heart be blest 
With Thy sweet Spirit for its guest, 

My God, to Thee I leave the rest: 

“ Thy will be done !” 

Renew my will from day to day ; 

Blend it with Thine, and take away 
Whate’er now makes it hard to say, 

“ Thy will be done !” 

—Charlotte Elliott. 



48 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Thy way, not mine, 0 Lord, 
However dark it be ! 

Lead me by Thine own hand ; 

Choose out the path for me. 

I dare not choose my lot: 

I would not, if I might; 
Choose Thou for me, my God, 

So shall I walk aright. 

The kingdom that I seek 
Is Thine : so let the way 
That leads to it be Thine, 

Else I must surely stray. 

Take Thou my cup, and it 
With joy or sorrow fill, 

As best to Thee may seem ; 
Choose Thou my good and ill. 

Choose Thou for me my friends, 
My sickness or my health ; 
Choose Thou my cares for me, 
My poverty or wealth. 

Not mine, not mine the choice, 

In things or great or small; 

Be Thou my Guide, my Strength, 
My Wisdom, and my All. 


— Bonar. 



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49 


My Jesus, as Thou wilt ! 

Oh, may Thy will be mine ! 

Into Thy hand of love 
I would my all resign : 

Through sorrow, or through joy, 
Conduct me as Thine own, 

And help me still to say, 

My Lord, Thy will be done ! 

My Jesus, as Thou wilt ! 

Though seen through many a tear, 
Let not my star of hope 
Grow dim or disappear : 

Since Thou on earth hast wept 
And sorrowed oft alone, 

If I must weep with Thee, 

My Lord, Thy will be done ! 

My Jesus, as Thou wilt ! 

All shall be well for me : 

Each changing future scene 
I gladly trust with Thee : 

Then to my home above 
I travel calmly on, 

And sing, in life or death, 

My Lord, Thy will be done ! 

— Schmolke. 


4 



5° 


Prayers and Thoughts 


In heavenly love abiding, 

No change my heart shall fear, 

And safe is such confiding, 

For nothing changes here : 

The storm may roar without me, 
My heart may low be laid, 

But God is round about me, 

And can I be dismayed ? 

Wherever He may guide me, 

No want shall turn me back ; 

My Shepherd is beside me, 

And nothing can I lack : 

His wisdom ever waketh, 

His sight is never dim : 

He knows the way He taketh, 

And I will walk with Him. 

Green pastures are before me, 
Which yet I have not seen ; 

Bright skies will soon be o’ er me, 
Where darkest clouds have been : 

My hope I cannot measure ; 

My path to life is free ; 

My Saviour has my treasure, 

And He will walk with me. 

—Anna L. Waring. 



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5 1 


Give to the winds thy fears; 

Hope on, be undismayed : 

God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears ; 
God shall lift up thy head. 

Through waves and clouds and storms, 

He gently clears thy way; 

Wait thou His time : the darkest night 
Shall end in brightest day. 

Far, far above thy thought 
His counsel shall appear, 

When fully He the work hath wrought 
That caused thy needless fear. 

What though thou rulest not! 

Yet heaven and earth and hell 
Proclaim—God sitteth on the throne, 

And ruleth all things well. 

— Gerhardt. 

Translated by J. Wesley. 

Though waves and storms go o’er my head, 
Though strength and friends be gone; 
Though joys be withered all, and dead, 
Though every comfort be withdrawn ; 

On this my steadfast soul relies,— 

Father, Thy mercy never dies. 

—-John Wesley. 



52 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Affliction is a stormy deep, 

Where wave resounds to wave ; 
Though o’er my head the billows roll, 
I know the Lord can save. 

Here will I rest, and build my hope, 
Nor murmur at His rod ; 

He’s more than all the world to me— 
My Health, my Life, my God ! 

— Colton. 


Calm me, my God, and keep me calm: 

Let Thine outstretched wing 
Be like the shade of Elim’s palm 
Beside her desert spring. 

Calm in the hour of buoyant health, 
Calm in the hour of pain, 

Calm in my poverty or wealth, 

Calm in my loss or gain,— 

Calm me, my God, and keep me calm, 
Soft resting on Thy breast; 

Soothe me with holy hymn and psalm, 
And bid my spirit rest. 


— Bonar. 



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’Tis my happiness below 

Not to live without the cross; 

But the Saviour’s power to know, 
Sanctifying every loss. 

Trials must and will befall; 

But with humble faith to see 

Love inscribed upon them all, 

This is happiness to me. 

God in Israel sows the seeds 
Of affliction, pain, and toil; 

These spring up and choke the weeds 
Which would else o’erspread the soil. 

Trials make the promise sweet, 

Trials give new life to prayer; 

Trials bring me to His feet, 

Lay me low and keep me there. 

Did I meet no trials here, 

No chastisement by the way, 

Might I not, with reason, fear 
I should prove a castaway ? 

Aliens may escape the rod, 

Sunk in earthly, vain delight, 

But the true-born child of God 
Must not, would not, if he might. 

— Cowper. 



54 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Lord of health and life, what tongue can tell 
How at Thy word were loosed the bands of hell; 
How Thy pure touch removed the leprous stain, 
And the polluted flesh grew clean again ? 

Oh, wash our hearts, restore the contrite soul, 
Stretch forth Thy healing hand, and make us 
whole; 

Oh, bend our stubborn knees to kneel to Thee; 
Speak but the word, and we once more are free. 

Yea, Lord, we claim the promise of Thy love, 
Thy love, which can all guilt, all pain remove; 
Nigh to our souls Thy great salvation bring, 
Then sickness hath no pang, and death no 
sting. 

We hail this pledge in all Thy deeds of grace ; 
As once disease and sorrow fled Thy face, 

So, when that face again unveiled we see, 
Sickness and tears and death no more shall be. 

Then grant us strength to pray “Thy king¬ 
dom come,” 

When we shall know Thee in Thy Father’s 
home, 

And at Thy great Epiphany adore 
The Co-eternal Godhead evermore. 

— Beadon. 



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55 


Jesus, my Saviour, look on me, 
For I am weary and opprest; 
I come to cast myself on Thee : 
Thou art my rest. 


Look down on me, for I am weak, 

I feel the toilsome journey’s length ; 
Thine aid omnipotent I seek: 

Thou art my strength. 


I am bewildered on my way, 

Dark and tempestuous is the night; 
O send Thou forth some cheering ray : 
Thou art my light. 


When Satan flings his fiery darts, 

I look to Thee : my terrors cease; 
Thy cross a hiding-place imparts : 
Thou art my peace. 


Standing alone on Jordan’s brink, 
In that tremendous latest strife, 
Thou wilt not suffer me to sink : 
Thou art my life. 


— Macduff. 



56 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Love Divine ! that stooped to share 
Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear, 
On Thee we cast each earth-born care, 
We smile at pain while Thou art near. 


Though long the weary way we tread, 

And sorrow crown each lingering year, 
No path we shun, no darkness dread, 

Our heart still whispering, Thou art near. 


On Thee we fling our burdening woe, 

O Love Divine, forever dear ; 

Content to suffer while we know, 

Living or dying, Thou art near. 

— Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. 


O Thou from whom all goodness flows, 
I lift my heart to Thee; 

In all my sorrows, conflicts, woes, 
Good Lord, remember me. 


If worn with pain, disease, and grief 
This feeble frame should be, 

Grant patience, rest, and kind relief: 
Good Lord, remember me. 



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57 


And oh, when in the hour of death 
I bow to Thy decree, 

Jesus ! receive my parting breath : 
Good Lord, remember me. 

— Thomas Haw (is. 


Jesus, I live to Thee, 

The loveliest and best; 

My life in Thee, Thy life in me, 

In Thy blest love I rest. 

Jesus, I die to Thee, 

Whenever death shall come ; 

To die in Thee is life to me, 

In my eternal home. 

Whether to live or die, 

I know not which is best; 

To live in Thee is bliss to me, 

To die is endless rest. 

Living or dying, Lord, 

I ask but to be Thine ; 

My life in Thee, Thy life in me, 
Makes heaven forever mine. 

— Harbaugh. 



58 


Prayers and Thoughts 


God of my life, to Thee I call! 

Afflicted, at Thy feet I fall; 

When the great water-floods prevail, 

Leave not my trembling heart to fail. 

Friend of the friendless and the faint, 
Where should I lodge my deep complaint ? 
Where, but with Thee, whose open door 
Invites the helpless and the poor ? 

Did ever mourner plead with Thee, 

And Thou refuse that mourner’s plea? 

Does not the word still fixed remain, 

That none shall seek Thy face in vain ? 

Poor though I am—despised, forgot, 

Yet God, my God, forgets me not; 

And he is safe, and must succeed, 

For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead. 

— Cowper. 

THE PRISONER OF THE LORD 
A Sabbath Hymn for a Sick-Chamber. 

Thousands, O Lord of hosts, to-day 
Within Thy temple meet; 

And tens of thousands throng to pay 
Their homage at Thy feet. 



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59 


They see Thy power and glory there, 

As I have seen them too ; 

They read, they hear, they join in prayer, 
As I was wont to do. 

I, of such fellowship bereft, 

In spirit turn to Thee; 

Oh, hast not Thou a blessing left, 

A blessing, Lord, for me ? 

Behold Thy prisoner, loose my bands, 

If ’t is Thy gracious will; 

If not, contented in Thy hands, 

Behold Thy prisoner still. 

I may not to Thy courts repair, 

Yet here Thou surely art; 

Oh, give me here a house of prayer, 
Here Sabbath-joys impart. 

To faith reveal the things unseen, 

To hope, the joys untold ; 

Let love, without a vail between, 

Thy glory now behold. 

Oh, make Thy face on me to shine, 
That doubt and fear may cease; 

Lift up Thy countenance benign 
On me, and give me peace. 

— Montgomery. 



6o 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Thou, who lov’st to send relief 
In time of our distress, 

Because Thyself didst bear our grief, 
And feel our sicknesses ; 


Thy will be done, I still would say, 
Whate’er that will may be; 

And let this trial, day by day, 

Fulfil its end in me. 


O Lord, look down, O Lord, forgive, 
Oh, help me from on high; 

Since no man to himself must live, 
Nor to himself can die. 


And when, through feebleness or pain, 
My thoughts are far from Thee, 
Though I forget Thee, Saviour, then, 
Oh, yet, forget not me. 


In Him that bore our griefs and pains 
Shall they, that suffer, boast, 

Who with the Father ever reigns, 

And with the Holy Ghost. 

—J. M. Neale. 



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61 


THE KINGDOM OF GOD 
I say to thee, do thou repeat 
To the first man thou mayest meet 
In lane, highway, or open street— 

That he and we and all men move 
Under a canopy of love 
As broad as the blue sky above; 

That doubt and trouble, fear and pain 
And anguish, all are shadows vain, 

That death itself shall not remain; 

That weary deserts we may tread, 

A dreary labyrinth may thread, 

Through dark ways underground be led; 

Yet, if we will one Guide obey, 

The dreariest path, the darkest way 
Shall issue out in heavenly day; 

And we, on divers shores now cast, 

Shall meet, our perilous voyage past, 

All in our Father’s house at last. 

—Archbishop Trench. 



62 


Prayers and Thoughts 


PER PACEM AD LUCEM 

I do not ask, O Lord, that life may be 
A pleasant road; 

I do not ask that Thou wouldst take from me 
Aught of its load : 

I do not ask that flowers should always spring 
Beneath my feet; 

I know too well the poison and the sting 
Of things too sweet. 

For one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead : 
Lead me aright— 

Though strength should falter and though heart 
should bleed— 

Through Peace to Light. 

I do not ask, O Lord, that Thou shouldst shed 
Full radiance here : 

Give but a ray of peace, that I may tread 
Without a fear. 

I do not ask my cross to understand, 

My way to see; 

Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand, 

And follow Thee. 

—Adelaide Anne Procter . 



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63 


PRAYERS 

O God, who chastisest us in Thy love, and 
refreshest us amid Thy chastening ; grant that 
we may ever be able to give Thee thanks for 
both ; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
—Leonine Sacramentary , A.D. 440. 

Lord, let no sickness or cross accident, no 
employment or weariness, make me angry or 
ungentle, and discontented, or unthankful, or 
uneasy to them that minister to me; but in 
all things make me like unto the holy Jesus. 
Amen .—Jeremy Taylor . 

O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health 
or life, except to spend them for Thee, with 
Thee, and in Thee. Thou alone knowest 
what is good for me; do, therefore, what 
seemeth Thee best. Give to me, or take from 
me; conform my will to Thine; and grant 
that, with humble and perfect submission, and 
in holy confidence, I may receive the orders 
of Thine eternal Providence ; and may equally 
adore all that comes to me from Thee; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — 
Blaise Pascal. 



6 4 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O God, who seest all our weaknesses, and 
the troubles we labor under, have regard unto 
the prayers of Thy servant, who stands in 
need of Thy comfort, Thy direction, and Thy 
help. Thou alone knowest what is best for 
us; let me never dispute Thy wisdom or Thy 
goodness. Lord, so prepare my heart, that 
no affliction may ever so surprise as to over¬ 
bear me. Dispose me at all times to a readi¬ 
ness to suffer what Thy Providence shall order 
or permit. Grant that I may never murmur 
at Thy appointments, nor be exasperated at 
the ministers of Thy Providence. Amen.— 
Thomas Wilson. 

We ask not, O Father, for health or life. 
We make an offering to Thee of all our days. 
Thou hast counted them. We would know 
nothing more. All we ask is to die rather 
than live unfaithful to Thee; and, if it be 
Thy will that we depart, let us die in patience 
and love. Almighty God, who holdest in 
Thy hand the keys of the grave to open and 
close it at Thy will, give us not life, if we 
shall love it too well. Living or dying we 
would be Thine. Amen .—Francois de la 
Mothe Fenelon. 



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65 


Almighty God, who seest that we have no 
power of ourselves to help ourselves, keep us 
both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in 
our souls, that we may be defended from all 
adversities which may happen to the body, 
and from all evil thoughts which may assault 
and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. — Gregorian Sacramentary, 
A.D. 590. 

Grant, gracious Father, that I may never 
dispute the reasonableness of Thy will, but 
ever close with it, as the best that can happen. 
Prepare me always for what Thy Providence 
shall bring forth. Let me never murmur, 
be dejected, or impatient, under any of the 
troubles of this life, but ever find rest and 
comfort in this, This is the will of my 
Father, and my God : grant this for Jesus 
Christ’s sake. Amen .—Thomas Wilson. 

O God, the Consolation of all such as be 
sorrowful, and the Salvation of all them that 
put their trust in Thee, grant unto us, in this 
dying life, that peace for which we humbly 
pray, and hereafter to attain unto everlasting 
joy in Thy presence, through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Amen .—Roman Breviary. 

5 



66 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Merciful God, be Thou now unto me a 
strong tower of defence, I humbly entreat 
Thee. Give me grace to await Thy leisure, 
and patiently to bear that Thou doest unto me ; 
nothing doubting or mistrusting Thy goodness 
towards me; for Thou knowest what is good 
for me better than I do. Therefore do with 
me in all things what Thou wilt; only arm 
me, I beseech Thee, with Thine armor, that 
I may stand fast; above all things, taking to 
me the shield of faith ; praying always that I 
may refer myself wholly to Thy will, abiding 
Thy pleasure, and comforting myself in those 
troubles which it shall please Thee to send 
me, seeing such troubles are profitable for me; 
and I am assuredly persuaded that all Thou 
doest cannot but be well; and unto Thee be all 
honor and glory. Amen .—Lady Jane Grey. 

O God, who makest cheerfulness the com¬ 
panion of strength, but apt to take wings in 
time of sorrow, we humbly beseech Thee that 
if, in Thy sovereign wisdom, Thou sendest 
weakness, yet for Thy mercy’s sake deny us 
not the comfort of patience. Lay not more 
upon us, O heavenly Father, than Thou wilt 
enable us to bear; and, since the fretfulness 



for the Use of the Sick 


67 


of our spirits is more hurtful than the heavi¬ 
ness of our burden, grant us that heavenly 
calmness which comes of owning Thy hand 
in all things, and patience in the trust that 
Thou dost all things well. Amen .—Rowland 
Williams. 

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, 
that we, who in our tribulation are yet of 
good cheer because of thy loving-kindness, 
may find Thee mighty to save from all dan¬ 
gers, through Jesus Christ. Amen .—Roman 
Breviary. 

Grant unto us, Almighty God, in all time 
of sore distress, the comfort of the forgive¬ 
ness of our sins. In time of darkness give 
us blessed hope, in time of sickness of body 
give us quiet courage; and when the heart 
is bowed down, and the soul is very heavy, 
and life is a burden, and pleasure a weariness, 
and the sun is too bright, and life too mirthful, 
then may that Spirit, the Spirit of the Com¬ 
forter, come upon us, and after our darkness 
may there be the clear shining of the heavenly 
light; that so, being uplifted again by Thy 
mercy, we may pass on through this our 
mortal life with quiet courage, patient hope, 



68 


Prayers and Thoughts 


and unshaken trust, hoping through Thy 
loving-kindness and tender mercy to be de¬ 
livered from death into the large life of the 
eternal years. Hear us of Thy mercy, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. — George 
Dawson. 

O Thou God of Patience, give us patience 
in the time of trial, and steadfastness to endure 
to the end. O Thou Spirit of prayer, awaken 
our hearts, that we may lift up holy hands to 
God, and cry unto Him in all our distresses. 
O Thou gentle Wind, cool and refresh our 
hearts in all heat and anguish. Be our Defence 
and Shade in the time of need, our Help in 
trial, our Consolation when all things are 
against us. Come, O Thou eternal Light, 
Salvation, and Comfort, be our Light in 
darkness, our Salvation in life, our Com¬ 
fort in death; and lead us in the straight 
way to everlasting life, that we may praise 
Thee forever. Amen .—Bernhard Albrecht. 

Lord, do not permit my trials to be above 
my strength ; and do Thou vouchsafe to be my 
strength and comfort in the time of trial. 
Give me grace to take in good part whatever 
shall befall me; and let my heart acknowl- 



for the Use of the Sick 


69 


edge it to be the Lord’s doing, and to come 
from Thy Providence, and not by chance. 
May I receive every thing from Thy hand 
with patience and with joy. Amen. — Tho?nas 
Wilson. 

Cast me not away from Thy presence, from 
Thy all-hallowing and life-giving presence; 
and take not Thy Holy Spirit, Thy sanctify¬ 
ing, Thy guiding, Thy comforting, Thy sup¬ 
porting, and confirming Spirit from me. O 
God, Thou art my God for ever and ever; 
Thou shalt be my guide unto death. Lord, 
comfort me, now that I lie sick upon my 
bed; make Thou my bed in all my sickness. 
O deliver my soul from the place of hell; 
and do Thou receive me. My heart is dis¬ 
quieted within me, and the fear of death is 
fallen upon me. Behold, Thou hast made 
my days as it were a span long, and my age 
is even as nothing in respect of Thee; and 
verily every man living is altogether vanity. 
When Thou with rebukes dost chasten man 
for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume 
away, like a moth fretting a garment; every 
man, therefore, is but vanity. And now, 
Lord, what is my hope? truly my hope is 



7° 


Prayers and Thoughts 


even in Thee. Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, 
and with Thine ears consider my calling : 
hold not Thy peace at my tears. Take this 
plague away from me; I am consumed by 
means of Thy heavy hand. I am a stranger 
with Thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers 
were. O spare me a little, that I may re¬ 
cover my strength, before I go hence and be 
no more seen. My soul cleaveth unto the 
dust: O quicken me according to Thy word. 
And when the snares of death compass me 
round about, let not the pains of hell take 
hold upon me .—-Jeremy Taylor. 

Remember, O most pitying Father, what 
this frail and feeble work of Thine hands can 
bear without fainting; nothing, indeed, of 
itself, but all things in Thee, if strength¬ 
ened by Thy grace. Wherefore grant me 
strength, that I may suffer and endure; pa¬ 
tience alone I ask. Lord, give me this, and 
behold my heart is ready. O God, my heart 
is ready to receive whatsoever shall be laid 
upon me. Grant that in my patience I may 
possess my soul; to that end, may I often 
look upon the face of Christ Thy Son, that, 
as He hath suffered such terrible things in the 



for the Use of the Sick 


7 1 


flesh, I may endeavor to be armed with the 
same mind. Wherefore I commit my strength 
unto Thee, O Lord ; for Thou art my Strength 
and my Refuge. Keep me, and bring me 
safely out of this trial when it shall please 
Thee. Amen .—Treasury of Devotion. 

O holy Jesus, Thou art a merciful high- 
priest, and touched with the sense of our in¬ 
firmities ; Thou knowest the sharpness of my 
sickness and the weakness of my person. The 
clouds are gathered about me, and Thou hast 
covered me with Thy storm: my understanding 
hath not such apprehension of things as for¬ 
merly. Lord, let Thy mercy support me, Thy 
Spirit guide me, and lead me through the 
valley of this death safely; that I may pass it 
patiently, holily, with perfect resignation. 

Thou hast promised to be with us in tribu¬ 
lation. Lord, my soul is troubled, and my 
body is weak, and my hope is in Thee; now 
make good Thy holy promise. Now, O holy 
Jesus, now let Thy hand of grace be upon 
me : Lord, remember Thy servant in the day 
when Thou bindest up Thy jewels. 

O take from me all tediousness of spirit, 
all impatience and unquietness: let me pos- 



7 2 


Prayers and Thoughts 


sess my soul in patience, and resign my soul 
and body into Thy hands, as into the hands 
of a faithful Creator, and a blessed Redeemer. 

O holy Jesu, Thou didst die for us : by Thy 
sad, pungent, and intolerable pains, which 
Thou enduredst for me, have pity on me, 
and ease my pain, or increase my patience. 
Lay on me no more than Thou shalt enable 
me to bear. O Lord, smite me friendly; for 
Thou knowest my infirmities. Into Thy hands 
I commend my spirit, for Thou hast redeemed 
me, O Lord, Thou God of truth. Come, Holy 
Spirit, help me in this conflict. Come, Lord 
Jesus, come quickly. Amen .—-Jeremy Taylor. 

Holy Father, whose chosen way of mani¬ 
festing Thyself to Thy children is by the 
discipline of trial and pain, we rejoice that 
we can turn to Thee in the midst of great 
anxiety, and commit all our troubles to Thy 
sure help. As Thou art with us in the sun¬ 
light, O be Thou with us in the cloud. In 
the path by which Thou guidest us, though it 
be through desert and stormy sea, suffer not 
our faith to fail, but sustain us by Thy near 
presence, and let the comforts which are in 
Jesus Christ fill our hearts with peace. And, 



for the Use of the Sick 


73 


O God, grant that the fiery trial which trieth 
us may not be in vain, but may lead us to a 
cheerful courage, and a holy patience; and 
let patience have her perfect work, that we 
may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing, 
wholly consecrate to Thee, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen .—Henry W. Foote. 

Grant unto us, Almighty God, that when 
our vision fails, and our understanding is 
darkened ; when the ways of life seem hard, 
and the brightness of life is gone,—to us grant 
the wisdom that deepens faith when the sight 
is dim, and enlarges trust when the under¬ 
standing is not clear. And whensoever Thy 
ways in nature or in the soul are hard to be 
understood, then may our quiet confidence, 
our patient trust, our loving faith in Thee be 
great, and as children knowing that they are 
loved, cared for, guarded, kept, may we with a 
quiet mind at all times put our trust in the un¬ 
seen God. So may we face life without fear, 
and death without fainting; and, whatsoever 
may be in the life to come, give us confident 
hope that whatsoever is best for us both here 
and hereafter is Thy good pleasure, and will 
be Thy law. Amen .—George Dawson. 



74 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Almighty and everlasting God, the Com¬ 
fort of the sad, the Strength of sufferers, 
let the prayers of those that cry out of any 
tribulation come unto Thee; that all may re¬ 
joice to find that Thy mercy is present with 
them in their afflictions; through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen .—Gelasian Sacramentary. 

O my God, by whose loving Providence, 
sorrows, difficulties, trials, dangers, become 
means of grace, lessons of patience, chan¬ 
nels of hope, grant us good will to use and 
not abuse those our privileges; and, of Thy 
great goodness, keep us alive through this 
dying life, that out of death Thou mayest raise 
us up to immortality. For His sake who is 
the Life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.— 
Christina G. Rossetti. 

O God Almighty, who to them that have 
no might increasest strength, strengthen us to 
do and suffer Thy good will and pleasure; 
through Jesus Christ. Amen .—Christina G. 
Rossetti. 

Give me, Lord, I pray Thee, the grace 
and virtue of constancy, and unwearied en¬ 
durance, that so I may receive with thanks- 



for the Use of the Sick 


75 


giving whatever Thy hand may send of ca¬ 
lamity or distress in this life, may bear it 
patiently, overcome it manfully, and, in every 
change and chance of life, may, with simple 
trust and resignation, cast myself and all I 
have into the arms of Thy good Providence. 
Amen .—Johann Arndt . 

O Lord, our heavenly Father, who orderest 
all things for our eternal good, mercifully 
enlighten our minds, and give us a firm and 
abiding trust in Thy love and care. Silence 
our murmurings, quiet our fears, and dispel 
our doubts, that, rising above our afflictions 
and our anxieties, we may rest on Thee, the 
Rock of everlasting strength. Amen .—New 
Church Book of Worship. 

O Lord, what cross wiliest Thou that I 
should bear this day, for love of Thee ? 
Thou knowest, Lord, that I am all weakness, 
strengthen me to bear it patiently, humbly, 
lovingly. If I sink under it, look on me and 
raise me up. Give what Thou commandest, 
and command what Thou wilt; sanctify my 
cross to me, and keep me Thine own forever. 
Amen.— E. B. Pusey. 



7 6 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Lord, let that become possible to me by 
Thy grace, which by nature seems impossible 
to me. Thou knowest that I am able to 
suffer but little, and that I am quickly cast 
down, when a slight adversity ariseth. For 
Thy name’s sake, let every exercise of tribu¬ 
lation be made pleasant unto me ; for to suffer 
and to be troubled for Thy sake is very whole- 
som e for my soul. Amen .—Thomas a Kempis. 

O God, the Father of Lights, from whom 
cometh down every good and perfect gift; 
mercifully look upon our frailty and infirmity, 
and grant us such health of body as Thou 
knowest to be needful to us; that, both in 
our bodies and souls, we may evermore serve 
Thee with all our strength and might; through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen .—Private De¬ 
votions, 1560. 

O Thou, our Lord and our God, our mer¬ 
ciful Father in Heaven, we entreat Thee with 
childlike hearts, give us in this world what¬ 
ever is really good and happy for us in soul 
and body, according to Thy holy will and 
pleasure. May we live as Christians, endure 
with patience, and at last die in peace and 
hope, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.— Jo¬ 
hann Quirsfeld. 



for the Use of the Sick 


77 


O Lord, I accept this sickness from Thee 
and entirely resign myself to Thy blessed will, 
whether for life or death. O Lord, I offer 
thee all that I now suffer, or have yet to suffer, 
in union with the suffering of my Redeemer. 
—Key of Heaven. 

Lord! when I am in sorrow I think on 
Thee. Listen to the cry of my heart, and 
my sorrowful complaint. Yet, O Father, I 
would not prescribe to Thee when and how 
Thy help should come. I will willingly tarry 
for the hour which Thou Thyself hast ap¬ 
pointed for my relief. Meanwhile strengthen 
me by Thy Holy Spirit; strengthen my faith, 
my hope, my trust; give me patience and 
resolution to bear my trouble ; and let me at 
last behold the time when Thou wilt make me 
glad with Thy grace. Ah, my Father ! never 
yet hast Thou forsaken Thy children, for¬ 
sake not me. Ever dost Thou give gladness 
unto the sorrowful, O give it now unto me. 
Always dost Thou relieve the wretched, 
relieve me too, when and where and how 
Thou wilt. Unto Thy wisdom, love, and 
goodness, I leave it utterly. Amen.— J. F. 
Stark. 



78 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O my God, Thou and Thou alone art all¬ 
wise and all-knowing ! I believe that Thou 
knowest just what is best for me. I believe 
that Thou lovest me better than I love myself, 
that Thou art all-wise in Thy Providence and 
all-powerful in Thy protection. I thank 
Thee, with all my heart, that Thou hast taken 
me out of my own keeping, and hast bidden 
me to put myself in Thy hands. I can ask 
nothing better than this, to be Thy care, not 
my own. O my Lord, through Thy grace, I 
will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest, 
and will not lead the way. I will wait on 
Thee for Thy guidance, and, on obtaining it, 
I will act in simplicity and without fear. And 
I promise that I will not be impatient, if at 
any time I am kept by Thee in darkness and 
perplexity; nor will I complain or fret if I 
come into any misfortune or anxiety. Amen. 
—John Henry Newman . 

Merciful and gracious God, who dealest 
wonderfully with Thy saints, and deliverest 
them in due season, though Thy help tarry 
for a time that our faith may be tried, and 
our hope increased and made sure by patience 
and experience: bow down Thine ear to our 



for the Use of the Sick 


79 


supplications and grant us Thy Holy Spirit, 
that, continuing instant in prayer, with full 
assurance of hope, we may patiently wait for 
Thy promised help; through Thy Son, our 
dear Lord Jesus Christ. Amen .—Lutheran 
Church Book. 

O Lord my God, be not Thou far from me; 
my God, have regard to help me; for there 
have risen up against me sundry thoughts, and 
great fears, afflicting my soul. How shall I 
pass through unhurt ? how shall I break them 
to pieces ? This is my hope, my only conso¬ 
lation, to flee unto Thee in every tribulation, 
to trust in Thee, to call upon Thee from my 
inmost heart, and to wait patiently for Thy 
consolation. Amen. — Thomas a Kempis. 

Almighty and merciful God, who art the 
Strength of the weak, the Refreshment of the 
weary, the Comfort of the sad, the Help of 
the tempted, the Life of the dying, the God 
of patience and of all consolation; Thou 
knowest full well the inner weakness of our 
nature, how we tremble and quiver before 
pain, and cannot bear the cross without Thy 
Divine help and support. Help me, then, O 
eternal and pitying God, help me to possess 



8o 


Prayers and Thoughts 


my soul in patience, to maintain unshaken 
hope in Thee, to keep that childlike trust 
which feels a Father’s heart hidden beneath 
the cross; so shall I be strengthened with 
power according to Thy glorious might, in 
all patience and long-suffering; I shall be 
enabled to endure pain and temptation, and, 
in the very depth of my suffering, to praise 
Thee with a joyful heart. Amen .—-Johann 
Habermann . 

Lord God, heavenly Father; if it please 
Thee to visit me with bodily infirmities, here 
I am. I know Thou art too kind and gracious 
to suffer anything to come upon me except 
for my good and blessing. Grant that I may 
rightly receive Thy visitation, and that my 
sickness may be to Thine honor and glory; 
through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. 
Amen .—Lutheran Church Book. 

Lord Jesus Christ: Give unto me at all 
times a patient spirit, willing and ready to 
wait and pray, thatT may not be weary of 
Thy chastening, but cast my burden upon 
Thee with all cheerfulness and confidence, 
and ever hope the best from Thee, who livest 
and reignest with the Father and the Holy 



8i 


\ 

for the Use of the Sick 


Ghost for ever and ever. Amen .—Lutheran 
Church Book. 

O my God, I do not desire to be freed from 
my pains; Thou knowest what is best for me; 
give me patience to suffer whatever Thou 
pleasest and so long as Thou pleasest. If it 
be Thy pleasure to inflict upon my weak body 
still greater punishments than those I now 
suffer, my heart is ready, O Lord, my heart 
is ready to accept them and to suffer in what¬ 
ever manner and measure shall be conformable 
to Thy holy will. This one grace I most 
ardently beg of Thee, my God, that I may 
die the death of Thy elect and be admitted, 
after the suffering and tribulations of this 
transitory life, into the kingdom of Thy glory, 
there to see and enjoy Thee in the company 
of the blessed for all eternity. Amen .—Key 
of Heaven. 

Ah, God! behold my grief and care. Fain 
would I serve Thee with a glad and cheerful 
countenance, but I cannot do it. However 
much I fight and struggle against my sadness, 
I am too weak for this sore conflict. Help 
me in my weakness, O Thou mighty God ! 
and give me Thy Holy Spirit to refresh and 
6 



82 


Prayers and Thoughts 


comfort me in my sorrow. Amid all my fears 
and griefs I yet know that I am Thine in life 
and death, and that nothing can really part 
me from Thee; neither things present, nor 
things to come, neither trial, nor fear, nor 
pain. And therefore, O Lord, I will still 
trust in Thy grace. Thou wilt not send me 
away unheard. Sooner or later Thou wilt lift 
this burden from my heart, and put a new 
song in my lips; and I will praise Thy good¬ 
ness, and thank and serve Thee here and for¬ 
ever more. Amen.—A. Scheretz. 

Lord, I am certain of Thy unbounded love; 
I will therefore lay me down in peace and 
take my rest, neither in love with life nor in 
fear of death. My lot is in Thy hands. I 
cast all my care, Lord, upon Thee, for Thou 
carest for me, and all the hairs of my head 
are numbered in Thy sight. Thou hast set 
me my bounds, which shall not be passed. 
Thou art the Lord; do as seemeth good in 
Thine eyes. Who am I, that I should say, 
What doest Thou ? Shall the clay say to the 
potter, What doest thou ? or the thing formed 
rebuke him that fashioned it ? And are not 
we in Thy hands as clay is in the potter’s? 




for the Use of the Sick 


83 


Thy will, therefore, be mine. If Thou wilt 
have me live, my heart is ready, 0 God; 
only increase Thy grace, that I may serve 
Thee more faithfully: if Thou wilt have me 
die, my heart is ready, O God; only let my 
spirit be received in peace. Thou, O Christ, 
art life to me, and to die is gain. If longer 
life be given me, I will live to Thee, to Thy 
honour and glory. Wilt Thou that I die, 
death shall be my gain, for I shall follow and 
attain Thee whom my soul loveth and seeketh. 
If, then, I walk in the midst of the valley of 
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for 
Thou art with me. Receive me according to 
Thy Word, and I shall live, and let me not 
be disappointed of my hope. Only this I 
would ask of Thee, dear Lord: whensoever 
Thou wilt that I die—to-day or to-morrow, 
in the midst of my years, or in old age—let 
me die in Thy favour. Lighten mine eyes 
that I sleep not in death. Into Thy hands, 
O Lord, I commend my spirit; for Thou hast 
redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth. 
Living or dying, Lord, I am Thine. In me 
Thy will be done; and let me never be sepa¬ 
rated from Thee, O God, my God, my all.— 
H. L. Sidney Lear. 



8 4 


Prayers and Thoughts 


The following selections are from the works 
of Jeremy Taylor: 

THE PRAYER TO BE SAID IN THE BEGINNING 
OF A SICKNESS 

O Almighty God, merciful and gracious, 
Thou hast now called me to the fellowship of 
sufferings : Lord, by the instrument of relig¬ 
ion let my present condition be so sanctified, 
that my sufferings may be united to the suffer¬ 
ings of my Lord, that so Thou mayest pity 
me and assist me, relieve my sorrow and sup¬ 
port my spirit, direct my thoughts, and sanc¬ 
tify the accidents of my sickness, and that 
the punishment of my sin may be the school 
of virtue; in which, since Thou hast now 
entered me, Lord, make me a holy proficient, 
that I may behave myself as a son under dis¬ 
cipline, humbly and obediently, evenly and 
penitently, that I may come by this means 
nearer unto Thee; that if I shall go forth of 
this sickness by the gate of life and health, I 
may return to the world with great strengths 
of spirit, to run a new race of a stricter holi¬ 
ness and a more severe religion; or, if I pass 
from hence with the outlet of death, I may 
enter into the bosom of my Lord, and may 



for the Use of the Sick 


85 


feel the present joys of a certain hope of that 
sea of pleasures, in which all Thy saints and 
servants shall be comprehended to eternal 
ages. Grant this for Jesus Christ’s sake, our 
dearest Lord and Saviour. Amen. 

AN ACT OF RESIGNATION BY A SICK PERSON 

TO BE SAID IN ALL THE ACCIDENTS OF 
HIS SICKNESS* 

O eternal God, Thou hast made me and 
sustained me ; Thou hast blessed me in all the 
days of my life, and hast taken care of me in 
all variety of accidents; and nothing happens 
to me in vain, nothing without Thy provi¬ 
dence ; and I know Thou smitest Thy servants 
in mercy, and with designs of the greatest 
pity in the world: Lord, I humbly lie down 
under Thy rod ; do with me as Thou pleasest; 
do Thou choose for me, not only the whole 
state and condition of being, but every little 
and great accident of it. Keep me safe by 
Thy grace, and then use what instrument Thou 
pleasest of bringing me to Thee. Lord, I am 
not solicitous of the passage, so I may get to 
Thee. Only, Lord, remember my infirmities, 
and let Thy servant rejoice in Thee always, 
and feel, and confess, and glory in Thy good- 



86 


Prayers and Thoughts 


ness. I am Thy servant and Thy creature, 
Thy purchased possession, and Thy son: I 
am all Thine; and because Thou hast mercy 
in store for all that trust in Thee, I cover 
mine eyes, and in silence wait for the time of 
my redemption. Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR THE GRACE OF PATIENCE 

Most merciful and gracious Father, who, 
in the redemption of lost mankind by the 
passion of Thy most holy Son, hast estab¬ 
lished a covenant of sufferings; I bless and 
magnify Thy name, that Thou hast adopted 
me into the inheritance of sons, and hast given 
me a portion of my elder Brother. Lord, the 
cross falls heavy and sits uneasy upon my 
shoulders; my spirit is willing, but my flesh 
is weak; I humbly beg of Thee, that I may 
now rejoice in this Thy dispensation and effect 
of providence. I know and am persuaded, 
that Thou art then as gracious when Thou 
smitest us for amendment or trial, as when 
Thou relievest our wearied bodies, in com¬ 
pliance with our infirmity. I rejoice, O Lord, 
in Thy rare and mysterious mercy, who, by 
sufferings, hast turned our misery into advan¬ 
tages unspeakable : for so Thou makest us like 



for the Use of the Sick 


87 


to Thy Son, and givest us a gift that the angels 
never did receive; for they cannot die in 
conformity to and imitation of their Lord 
and ours; but blessed be Thy name, we can ; 
and, dearest Lord, let it be so. Amen. 

* 

Thou, who art the God of patience and 
consolation, strengthen me in the inner man, 
that I may bear the yoke and burden of the 
Lord without any uneasy and useless murmurs 
and ineffective unwillingness. Lord, I am 
unable to stand under the cross, unable of 
myself; but Thou, O holy Jesus, who didst 
feel the burden of it, who didst sink under 
it, and wert pleased to admit a man to bear 
part of the load, when Thou underwentest all 
for him, be Thou pleased to ease this load by 
fortifying my spirit, that I may be strongest 
when I am weakest, and may be able to do 
and suffer everything Thou pleasest, through 
Christ who strengthens me. Lord, if Thou 
wilt support me, I will for ever praise Thee: 
if Thou wilt suffer the load to press me yet 
more heavily, I will cry unto Thee, and com¬ 
plain unto my God; and at last I will lie 
down and die, and by the mercies and inter- 



88 


Prayers and Thoughts 


cession of the holy Jesus, and the conduct of 
Thy blessed Spirit, and the ministry of angels, 
pass into those mansions where holy souls rest, 
and weep no more. Lord, pity me; Lord, 
sanctify this my sickness; Lord, strengthen 
me; holy Jesus, save me, and deliver me. 
Thou knowest how shamefully I have fallen 
with pleasure: in Thy mercy and very pity, 
let me not fall with pain too. O let me never 
charge God foolishly, nor offend Thee by my 
impatience and uneasy spirit, nor weaken the 
hands and hearts of those that charitably min¬ 
ister to my needs; but let me pass through the 
valley of tears and the valley of the shadow ot 
death with safety and peace, with a meek spirit 
and a sense of the divine mercies; and though 
Thou breakest me in pieces, my hope is, 
Thou wilt gather me up in the gatherings of 
eternity. Grant this, eternal God, gracious 
Father, for the merits and intercession of our 
merciful High Priest, who once suffered for 
me, and for ever intercedes for me, our most 
gracious and ever-blessed Saviour Jesus. 

A PRAYER TO BE SAID ON TAKING MEDICINE 

O most blessed and eternal Jesus, Thou, 
who art the great Physician of our souls, and 



for the Use of the Sick 


89 


the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing 
in Thy wings, to Thee is given by Thy heavenly 
Father the government of all the world, and 
Thou disposest every great and little accident 
to Thy Father’s honour, and to the good and 
comfort of them that love and serve Thee; 
be pleased to bless the ministry of Thy ser¬ 
vant in order to my ease and health, direct 
his judgment, prosper the medicines, and dis¬ 
pose the chances of my sickness fortunately, 
that I may feel the blessing and loving-kind¬ 
ness of the Lord in the ease of my pain and 
the restitution of my health; that I, being 
restored to the society of the living, and to 
Thy solemn assemblies, may praise Thee and 
Thy goodness secretly among the faithful, and 
in the congregation of Thy redeemed ones, 
here in the outer-courts of the Lord, and here¬ 
after in Thy eternal temple for ever and ever. 
Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR PARDON OF SINS, TO BE SAID 
FREQUENTLY IN TIME OF SICKNESS 

O eternal and most gracious Father, I 
humbly throw myself down at the foot of 
Thy mercy-seat, upon the confidence of Thy 
essential mercy, and Thy commandment that 



9° 


Prayers and Thoughts 


we should come boldly to the throne of grace, 
that we may find mercy in time of need. O 
my God, hear the prayers and cries of a sin¬ 
ner, who calls earnestly for mercy. Lord, my 
needs are greater than all the degrees of my 
desire can be: unless Thou hast pity upon 
me, I perish infinitely and intolerably; and 
then there will be one voice fewer in the choir 
of singers, who shall recite Thy praises to 
eternal ages. 

¥ 

O just and dear God, my sins are innu¬ 
merable ; they are upon my soul in multi¬ 
tudes ; they are a burden too heavy for me to 
bear ; they already bring sorrow and sickness, 
shame and displeasure, guilt and a decaying 
spirit, a sense of Thy present displeasure, and 
fear of worse, of infinitely worse. But it is 
to Thee so essential, so delightful, so usual, 
so desired by Thee to shew mercy, that al¬ 
though my sin be very great, and my fear 
proportionable, yet Thy mercy is infinitely 
greater than all the world. Lord, Thou hast 
sent Thy Son to die for the pardon of my 
sins; Thou hast given me Thy Holy Spirit 
as a seal of adoption to consign the article 
of remission of sins; Thou hast, for all my 



for the Use of the Sick 


9 1 


sins, still continued to invite me to condi¬ 
tions of life by Thy ministers the prophets; 
and Thou hast, with variety of holy acts, soft¬ 
ened my spirit, and possessed my fancy, and 
instructed my understanding, and bended and 
inclined my will, and directed or overruled 
my passions, in order to repentance and par¬ 
don : and why should not Thy servant beg 
passionately, and humbly hope for, the effects 
of all these Thy strange and miraculous acts 
of loving-kindness? Lord, I deserve it not, 
but I hope Thou wilt pardon all my sins; 
and I beg it of Thee for Jesus Christ’s sake. 

* 

O my God, how shall Thy servant be dis¬ 
posed to receive such a favour, which is so 
great, that the ever-blessed Jesus did die to 
purchase it for us; so great that the falling 
angels never could hope, and never shall ob¬ 
tain it ? Lord, I do from my soul forgive all 
that have sinned against me; oh, forgive me 
my sins, as I forgive them that sinned against 
me. Lord, I confess my sins unto Thee daily, 
by the accusations and secret acts of con¬ 
science; and if we confess our sins, Thou 
hast called it a part of justice to forgive us 



9 2 


Prayers and Thoughts 


our sins, and to cleanse us from all unright¬ 
eousness. Lord, I put my trust in Thee; and 
Thou art ever gracious to them that put their 
trust in Thee. I call upon my God for mercy, 
and Thou art always more ready to hear than 
we to pray. But all that I can do, and all 
that I am, and all that I know of myself, is 
nothing but sin, and infirmity, and misery; 
therefore I go forth of myself, and throw my¬ 
self wholly into the arms of Thy mercy through 
Jesus Christ, and beg of Thee, for His death 
and passion’s sake, by His resurrection and 
ascension, by all the parts of our redemption, 
and Thy infinite mercy, in which Thou pleasest 
Thyself above all the works of the creation, 
to be pitiful and compassionate to Thy servant 
in the abolition of all my sins; so shall I praise 
Thy glories with a tongue not defiled with evil 
language, and a heart purged by Thy grace, 
quitted by Thy mercy, and absolved by Thy 
sentence, from generation to generation. Amen. 

AN ACT OF HOLY RESOLUTION OF AMENDMENT 
OF LIFE, IN CASE OF RECOVERY 

O most just and most merciful Lord God, 
who hast sent evil diseases, sorrow and fear, 
trouble and uneasiness, briers and thorns, into 



for the Use of the Sick 


93 


the world, and planted them in our houses, 
and round about our dwellings, to keep sin 
from our souls, or to drive it thence; I 
humbly beg of Thee, that this my sickness 
may serve the ends of the Spirit, and be a 
messenger of spiritual life, an instrument of 
reducing me to more religious and sober dis¬ 
courses. If I recover, I will live, by Thy 
grace and help, to do the work of God, and 
passionately pursue my interest of heaven, 
and serve Thee in the labour of love, with the 
charities of a holy zeal, and the diligence of 
a firm and humble obedience. Lord, I will 
dwell in Thy temple and in Thy service; re¬ 
ligion shall be my employment, and alms 
shall be my recreation, and patience shall be 
my rest, and to do Thy will shall be my meat 
and drink; and to live shall be Christ, and 
then to die shall be gain. 

“ Oh, spare me a little, that I may recover 
my strength, before I go hence, and be no 
more seen. ” ‘ ‘ Thy will be done on earth as 

it is in heaven.” Amen. 

¥ 

O Lo?d our God, whose mercy is infinite, 
but Thy wrath endureth but the twinkling of 



94 


Prayers and Thoughts 


an eye, and even in this short time of Thy 
wrath, Thou rememberest mercy; we cry 
unto Thee, and address ourselves unto Thee 
right humbly: Oh, turn not Thy face away 
from us; keep our life from them that go 
down into the pit, and preserve our souls 
from hell. O Lord, heal us, and be merciful 
unto us, and save us, turn our heaviness into 
joy, and gird us with gladness; so shall we 
give thanks unto Thee for ever; through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 


¥ 

O God, our rock and the house of our de¬ 
fence, let us be glad and rejoice in Thy mer¬ 
cies and salvation. Consider, O Lord, our 
trouble; and, in pity, know our souls to be 
set round about with enemies and adversaries. 
Shut us not up into the hands of our enemies, 
nor our lives within the grave. Our time, O 
Lord, is in Thy hand, to Thee pertain the 
issues of life and death: and though our 
strength hath failed us because of our iniquity, 
and our bones are vexed by reason of our 
sins, yet our hope is in Thee, O Lord; we 
have said, Thou art our God. Deliver us 



for the Use of the Sick 


95 


from all our enemies, bodily and ghostly: 
turn our sadness into joy and our mourning 
into gladness, lest our bodies and souls be 
consumed for very heaviness. Let us not be 
put to confusion nor to silence in the grave, 
but let us see Thy marvellous loving-kind¬ 
ness, and partake of Thy plentiful goodness 
which Thou hast laid up for them that fear 
Thee, even before the sons of men. O let 
us never be cast out of the sight of Thine 
eyes, but deal with us in mercy and loving¬ 
kindness. Into Thy hands we commend our 
spirits, resigning ourselves up to Thy provi¬ 
dence and disposition, either to life or death, 
as Thou in Thy infinite wisdom shall find 
most proportionable to Thy glory and our 
eternal good, beseeching Thee to be our 
guide to death, and to lead us for Thy name’s 
sake to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 

¥ 

O Lord God, who art wonderful in Thy 
works, and in Thy doings towards the chil¬ 
dren of men; Thou chastisest every one 
whom Thou receivest, proving us and trying 
us, like as silver is tried; let Thy merciful 



96 


Prayers and Thoughts 


hands lead us through the fire of afflictions, 
and the waters of temporal chastisements, so 
as we may not be consumed with the flames 
of Thy wrath, nor the waters go over our 
souls ; but that we, being sustained by the 
comforts of Thy Spirit, and refreshed with 
the dew of Thy graces, may at last be brought 
out into a wealthy place, even the place of 
eternal treasures; that while Thou holdest 
our souls in life, we may never cease praising 
Thee, who hast never turned Thy mercy from 
us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

¥ 

O Lord God of our salvation, who for our 
sakes wert wounded, and didst die and lie in 
the grave, but yet alone of all that ever died, 
wert free among the dead, and by Thine own 
power didst rise again with victory and 
triumph; have mercy upon Thy servant, for 
Thine indignation lieth hard upon me, and 
Thou hast vexed me with all Thy storms. 
My soul is full of trouble by reason of my 
sins, and my life draweth nigh unto the grave: 
restore me unto Thy favour, and let me not 
go down into the dark, nor my life into the 



for the Use of the Sick 


97 


place where all things are forgotten; but let 
me shew forth Thy loving-kindness amongst 
Thy redeemed ones in the land of the living; 
for the living, the living, he shall praise 
Thee, and confess the holiness and the mer¬ 
cies of Thy holy name. Oh, hide not Thou 
Thy face from me, but give me health of 
body and restore and preserve me in the life 
of righteousness; through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

* 

O Eternal God, who endurest for ever, and 
Thy remembrance throughout all generations, 
have pity upon us according to the infinite 
treasures of Thy loving-kindness; hear the 
voice of our groaning, for Thy indignation 
and Thy wrath lieth hard upon us. Look 
down, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary; hear the 
mournings of us and of all distressed people; 
send us health, and life so long as it may be a 
blessing; and do not shorten our days in 
wrath : but give us grace so to spend all oui 
time in the works of repentance and holi¬ 
ness, that when our years fail, and our change 
is come, we may be translated to the new 
heavens, which shall never perish nor wax 
old, there to continue and stand fast in Thy 

7 



98 Prayers and Thoughts 

sight for ever; through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 

A PRAYER TO BE SAID AT THE BEGINNING 
OF A SICKNESS 

O Lord my God, who chastisest every one 
whom Thou receivest, and, with Thy fatherly 
correction, smitest all those whom Thou con- 
signest to the inheritance of sons, write my 
soul in the book of life, and number me 
amongst Thy children whom Thou hast smit¬ 
ten with the rod of sickness, and, by Thy 
chastisements, hast brought me into the lot of 
the righteous. Thou, O blessed Jesu, art a 
helper in the needful time of trouble; lay no 
more upon me than Thou shalt enable me to 
bear, and in due time restore me to health, 
and to Thy solemn assemblies again, and to 
the joy of Thy countenance. Give me pa¬ 
tience and humility, and the grace of re¬ 
pentance and an absolute dereliction of my¬ 
self, and a resignation to Thy pleasure and 
providence, with a power to do Thy will in 
all things, and then do what Thou pleasest to 
me; only in health or sickness, in life or 
death, let me feel Thy comforts refreshing 
my soul, and let Thy grace pardon all my 



for the Use of the Sick 


99 


sins. Grant this, O blessed Jesu, for my 
trust is in Thee only : Thou art my God, and 
my merciful Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 

IN THE PROGRESS OF A SICKNESS 

Heavenly Father, if it may be for Thy 
glory and my ghostly good, to have the days 
of my pilgrimage prolonged, I beg of Thee 
health and life: but if it be not pleasing to 
Thee to have this cup pass from me, Thy will 
be done: my Saviour hath drunk olf all the 
bitterness. Behold, O Lord, I am in Thy 
hands, do with me as seemeth good in Thine 
eyes. Though I walk through the valley of 
the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for 
Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff 
comfort me. I will lay me down in peace, 
and take my rest; for it is Thou, Lord, only, 
who shalt make me to dwell in everlasting 
safety, and to partake of the joys of Thy 
kingdom, who livest and reignest, eternal 
God, world without end. Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR A SICK PERSON IN DANGER 
OF DEATH 

O Lord Jesus Christ, our health and life, 
our hope, and our resurrection from the dead, 

t L. of C. • 



100 


Prayers and Thoughts 


I resign myself up to Thy holy will and 
pleasure, either to life, that I may live longer 
to Thy service, and my amendment; or to 
death, to the perpetual enjoyment of Thy 
presence, and of Thy glories. Into Thy 
hands I commend my spirit; for I know, O 
Lord, that nothing can perish which is com¬ 
mitted to Thy mercies. I believe, O Lord, 
that I shall receive my body again at the 
resurrection of the just. I relinquish all care 
of that, only I beg of Thee mercy for my 
soul. There is no help in me, O Lord; I can¬ 
not by my own power give a minute’s rest to 
my wearied body; but my trust is in Thy sure 
mercies; and I call to mind, to my unspeak¬ 
able comfort, that Thou wert hungry, and 
thirsty, and wearied, and whipt, and crowned 
with thorns, and mocked, and crucified, for 
me. Oh, let that mercy which made Thee 
suffer so much, make Thee do that for which 
Thou sufferedst so much—pardon me, and 
save me. As my body grows weak, let Thy 
grace be stronger; let not my faith doubt, 
nor my hope tremble, nor my charity grow 
cold, nor my soul be affrighted with the ter¬ 
rors of death; but let the light of Thy coun¬ 
tenance enlighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in 



for the Use of the Sick 


101 


death eternal; and when my tongue fails, let 
Thy Spirit teach my heart to pray with strong 
cryings and groans that are unutterable; that 
my soul may, by Thy strength, triumph in the 
joys of eternity, in the fruition of Thee, my life, 
my joy, my hope, my exceeding great reward, 
my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

AN ACT OF PATIENCE AND RESIGNATION 

We know, O God, that Thou art infinitely 
wise and infinitely good, and Thou disposest 
all the events of Thy creatures to excellent 
purposes, and delightest to bring good out of 
evil. Behold, O God, we are Thy servants 
and Thy creatures, do to us as seemeth good 
in Thine eyes; only give us patience and a 
long-suffering spirit, that we may not murmur 
secretly, when we complain openly; that we 
may not make haste in the day of our calamity, 
but with a quiet spirit expect and wait for the 
time of our redemption. But make no long 
tarrying, O Lord, make haste to help us, O 
God of our salvation; and be pleased to give 
us a light from heaven, that, with the eye of 
faith, we may see beyond the cloud, and look 
for those comforts which Thou didst prepare 
for Thy servants that love Thee, and put their 



102 


Prayers and Thoughts 


trust in Thee, and have laid up all their hopes 
in the bosom of God. 

AN ACT OF HOPE 

O God, our God, Thou hast said unto us, 
‘ ‘ I will never leave you, nor forsake you; ’ 7 
Thou hast often eased our calamities, and 
taken off Thy severe hand, Thou hast prom¬ 
ised to be with us in time of need, Thou de- 
lightest to deliver them whose confidence is 
in Thy goodness. Thou hast supported our 
spirits in the day of our sorrow, and hast 
given us many intervals and spaces of refresh¬ 
ment, and renewest Thy loving-kindness day 
by day: Oh, let us never have our portion 
amongst the hopeless and desperate. Let us 
always pray to Thee, and hope in Thee, and 
in every period of our affliction let us do some 
actions of virtue, by which we may please 
Thee, and be accepted so long as we can 
pray. Thou hast commanded us to hope, 
and we do hope, that these comforts shall 
refresh our souls, that Thy mercies will sup¬ 
port us under our afflictions, that Thy Spirit 
shall comfort us in it, and Thy grace and Thy 
glorious providence shall speedily deliver us 
from it. Amen, blessed Jesus, Amen. 



for the Use of the Sick 


103 


MEDITATIONS FOR SLEEPLESS 
NIGHTS 

I close my heavy eye, 

Saviour, ever near! 

I lift my soul on high, 

Through the darkness drear: 

Be Thou my light, I cry, 
Saviour, ever dear! 

I feel Thine arms around, 
Saviour, ever near! 

With Thee if I am found, 
Never can I fear, 

Whatever ills abound;— 
Saviour, ever dear ! 

Thine is the day and night, 
Saviour, ever near! 

Thine is the dark and light, 

Be my covert here : 

Oh, shield me with Thy might, 
Saviour, ever dear! 

And when I come to die, 
Saviour, ever near ! 

Receive my parting sigh; 

In the hour of fear, 

Be to my spirit nigh, 

Saviour, ever dear! 


— Bonar. 



Prayers and Thoughts 


104 


Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 
O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine 
ears be attentive to the voice of my supplica¬ 
tions. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniqui¬ 
ties, O Lord, who shall stand ? But there is 
forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be 
feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth 
wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul 
waiteth for the Lord more than they that 
watch for the morning: I say, more than they 
that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope 
in the Lord : for with the Lord there is mercy, 
and with him is plenteous redemption. And 
he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 
(Psalm 130.) 

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto 
God with my voice ; and he gave ear unto me. 

the day of my trouble I sought the Lord : 
my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my 
soul refused to be comforted. I remembered 
God, and was troubled: I complained, and 
my spirit was overwhelmed. Thou holdest 
mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that 
I cannot speak. I have considered the days 
of old, the years of ancient times. I call 
to remembrance my song in the night: I 



for the Use of the Sick 


i°5 


commune with mine own heart: and my spirit 
made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off 
for ever ? and will he be favourable no more ? 
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his 
promise fail for evermore? Hath God for¬ 
gotten to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut 
up his tender mercies? And I said, This 
is my infirmity: but I will remember the 
years of the right hand of the Most High. I 
will remember the works of the Lord : surely 
I will remember thy wonders of old. I will 
meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy 
doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanc¬ 
tuary : who is so great a God as our God ? 
(Psalm 77.) 

Yet the Lord will command his loving¬ 
kindness in the day-time, and in the night his 
song shall be with me, and my prayer unto 
the God of my life. I will say unto God my 
rock, Why hast thou forgotten me ? why go I 
mourning because of the oppression of the 
enemy? Why art thou cast down, O my 
soul ? and why art thou disquieted within me ? 
hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him, 
who is the health of my countenance, and my 
God. (Psalm 42.) 



io6 


Prayers and Thoughts 


I remember thee upon my bed, and med¬ 
itate on thee in the night watches. Be¬ 
cause thou hast been my help, therefore in 
the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My 
soul followeth hard after thee : thy right hand 
upholdeth me. (Psalm 63.) 

I will bless the Lord, who hath given me 
counsel: my reins also instruct me in the 
night seasons. I have set the Lord always 
before me : because he is at my right hand, 
I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is 
glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also 
shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave 
my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine 
Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew 
me the path of life : in thy presence is fulness 
of joy : at thy right hand there are pleasures 
forevermore. (Psalm 16.) 

Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with 
your own heart upon your bed, and be still. 
I will lay me down in peace and sleep; for 
Thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in 
safety. 

O Father of spirits, and the God of all 
flesh, have mercy and pity upon all sick and 



for the Use of the Sick 


107 


dying Christians, and receive the souls which 
Thou hast redeemed returning unto Thee. 

Blessed are they that dwell in the heavenly 
Jerusalem, where there is no need of the sun, 
neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the 
glory of God does lighten it, and the Lamb 
is the light thereof. And there shall be no 
night there, and they need no candle; for 
the Lord God giveth them light, and they 
shall reign for ever and ever. 

Think upon all thy friends who are gone 
before thee ; and pray that God would grant 
to thee to meet them in a joyful resurrection. 

Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord, my 
God. In Thee, O Lord, have I trusted: let 
me never be confounded. Amen .— ; Jeremy 
Taylor. 

AN ANODYNE 

As in the night, I restless lie, 

I the watch-candle keep in eye; 

The innocent I often blame, 

For the slow wasting of its flame. 

Sweet ease !—O whither are you fled ?— 
With one short slumber ease my head! 

My curtain oft I draw away, 

Eager to see the morning ray; 



io8 


Prayers and Thoughts 


But when the morning gilds the skies, 
The morning no relief supplies. 

To me, alas ! the morning light 
Is as afflictive as the night. 

My vigorous cries to God ascend, 

Oh ! will not God my cries attend ? 
Can God paternal love forbear— 

Can God reject a filial prayer ? 

Is there in Heaven for me no cure— 
Why do I then such pains endure ? 

My flesh in torture oft repines 
At what God for my good designs; 

My spirit the repiner chides, 

Submissive to God’s will abides : 

God my disease and temper weighs; 
No pang superfluous on me lays. 

Why should I then my pains decline, 
Inflicted by pure love divine ? 

Let them run out their destined course, 
And spend upon me all their force; 
Short pains can never grievous be, 
Which work a blest eternity. 

—Bishop Ken. 



for the Use of the Sick 109 

Lighten our darkness, we beseech Thee, O 
Lord; and by Thy great mercy defend us 
from all perils and dangers of this night; for 
the love of Thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus 
Christ. Amen .—Gelasian Sacramentary. 

MIDNIGHT HYMN 

My God, now I from sleep awake, 

The sole possession of me take; 

From midnight terrors me secure, 

And guard my heart from thoughts impure. 

Blest Angels ! while we silent lie, 

Your Hallelujahs sing on high ; 

You, ever wakeful near the Throne, 
Prostrate adore the Three in One. 

I with your choir celestial join, 

In offering up a hymn divine: 

With you in heaven I hope to dwell, 

And bid the night and world farewell. 

O may I always ready stand, 

With my lamp burning in my hand ; 

May I in sight of heaven rejoice, 
Whene’er I hear the Bridegroom’s voice ! 



1 10 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Glory to Thee, in light array’d, 

Who Light Thy dwelling-place hast made ; 
A boundless ocean of bright beams 
From Thy all-glorious Godhead streams. 

The sun in its meridian height 
Is very darkness in Thy sight: 

My soul, O lighten and inflame, 

With thought and love of Thy great name. 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, 
Praise Him, all creatures here below; 
Praise Him above, y’ Angelic Host, 

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

—Bishop Ken. 



II 


Ctjanfissgtfotngg for Becofocrv 
from ^icfwcgjs 



PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE 


I waited patiently for the Lord; and he 
inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He 
brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out 
of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, 
and established my goings. And he hath put 
a new song in my mouth, even praise unto 
our God; many shall see it, and fear, and 
shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man 
that maketh the Lord his trust. Many, O 
Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which 
thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to 
us-ward : they cannot be reckoned up in order 
unto thee: if I would declare and speak of 
them, they are more than can be numbered. 
(Psalm 40.) 

I will bless the Lord at all times : his praise 
shall continually be in my mouth. My soul 
shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble 
shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify 
the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name 
together. I sought the Lord, and he heard 
me, and delivered me from all my fears. 
They looked unto him, and were lightened: 

8 113 


Prayers and Thoughts 


U4 

and their faces were not ashamed. This poor 
man cried, and the Lord heard him, and 
saved him out of all his troubles. The angel 
of the Lord encampeth round about them 
that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste 
and see that the Lord is good : blessed is the 
man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, 
ye his saints: for there is no want to them 
that fear him. The young lions do lack, and 
suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord 
shall not want any good thing. The righteous 
cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth 
them out of all their troubles. The Lord is 
nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; 
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 
Many are the afflictions of the righteous : but 
the Lord delivereth him out of them all. The 
Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants : and 
none of them that trust in him shall be deso¬ 
late. (Psalm 34.) 

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the 
Most High shall abide under the shadow of 
the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is 
my refuge and my fortress : my God ; in him 
will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from 
the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome 



for the Use of the Sick 


115 


pestilence. He shall cover thee with his 
feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: 
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by 
night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; 
nor for the pestilence that walketh in dark¬ 
ness ; nor for the destruction that wasteth at 
noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, 
and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it 
shall not come nigh thee. Because thou hast 
made the Lord which is my refuge, even the 
Most High, thy habitation; there shall no 
evil befall thee, neither shall any plague 
come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give 
his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in 
all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their 
hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder : the 
young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample 
under feet. Because he hath set his love upon 
me, therefore will I deliver him : I will set him 
on high, because he hath known my name. 
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him : 
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver 
him, and honour him. With long life will I 
satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 
(Psalm 91.) 



n6 


Prayers and Thoughts 


I shall not die, but live, and declare the 
works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened 
me sore : but he hath not given me over unto 
death. Open to me the gates of righteous¬ 
ness : I will go into them, and I will praise 
the Lord : this gate of the Lord, into which 
the righteous shall enter. (Psalm 118.) 

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us 
with benefits, even the God of our salvation. 
He that is our God is the God of salvation ; 
and unto God the Lord belong the issues from 
death. (Psalm 68.) 

For he hath looked down from the height 
of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord 
behold the earth; to hear the groaning of 
the prisoners; to loose those that are ap¬ 
pointed to death. (Psalm 102.) 

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, 
when he had been sick, and was recovered of 
his sickness : I said in the cutting off of my 
days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I 
am deprived of the residue of my years. I 
said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord, 
in the land of the living: I shall behold man 
no more with the inhabitants of the world. 



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117 


Mine age is departed, and is removed from 
me as a shepherd’s tent: I have cut off like a 
weaver my life : he will cut me off with pining 
sickness: from day even to night wilt thou 
make an end of me. I reckoned till morning, 
that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones : 
from day even to night wilt thou make an 
end of me. Like a crane or a swallow, so 
did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove : mine 
eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I 
am oppressed; undertake for me. O Lord, 
by these things men live, and in all these 
things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou 
recover me, and make me to live. Behold, 
for peace I had great bitterness: but thou 
hast in love to my soul delivered it from the 
pit of corruption : for thou hast cast all my 
sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot 
praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: 
they that go down into the pit cannot hope 
for thy truth. The living, the living, he 
shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father 
to the children shall make known thy truth. 
The Lord was ready to save me : therefore we 
will sing my songs to the stringed instruments 
all the days of our life, in the house of the 
Lord. (Isaiah, 38.) 



Prayers and Thoughts 


118 


I love the Lord, because he hath heard my 
voice and my supplications. Because he hath 
inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call 
upon him as long as I live. The sorrows of 
death compassed me, and the pains of hell 
gat hold upon me: I found trouble and 
sorrow. Then called I upon the name of the 
Lord ; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my 
soul. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; 
yea, our God is merciful. The Lord pre- 
serveth the simple: I was brought low, and 
he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my 
soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with 
thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from 
death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from 
falling. I will walk before the Lord in the 
land of the living. What shall I render unto 
the Lord for all his benefits toward me? I 
will take the cup of salvation, and call upon 
the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows 
unto the Lord now in the presence of all his 
people. O Lord, truly I am thy servant: I 
am thy servant, and the son of thy hand¬ 
maid : thou hast loosed my bonds. I will 
offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, 
and will call upon the name of the Lord. I 
will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the 



for the Use of the Sick 


11 9 


presence of all his people, in the courts of 
the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O 
Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 
116.) 


HYMNS 

Oh, bless the Lord, my soul ! 

Let all within me join, 

And aid my tongue to bless His name, 
Whose favors are divine. 

Oh, bless the Lord, my soul! 

Nor let His mercies lie 
Forgotten in unthankfulness, 

And without praises die. 

’ T is He forgives thy sins; 

’ T is He relieves thy pain; 

* T is He that heals thy sicknesses, 
And makes thee young again. 

He crowns thy life with love, 

When ransomed from the grave; 
He, who redeemed my soul from hell, 
Hath sovereign power to save. 

— Watts . 



120 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Lord, what is man ! that child of pride, 
That boasts his high degree ! 

If left one moment to himself 
He sinks—and where is he ? 

In Thee I live and move and am; 

Thou dealest out my days : 

Lord, as Thou dost renew my life, 

Let me renew Thy praise. 

To Thee I come, from Thee I am, 

For Thee I still would be ; 

’T is better for me not to live, 

Than not to live to Thee. 

Thou art my living fountain, Lord ; 

On me Thy streams still flow: 

Myself I render up to Thee, 

To whom myself I owe. 

— Unknown. 

What shall I render to my God 
For all His kindness shown ? 

My feet shall visit Thine abode, 

My songs address Thy throne. 

Among the saints that fill Thy house, 
My offerings shall be paid; 

There shall my zeal perform the vows 
My soul in anguish made. 




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How much is mercy Thy delight, 
Thou ever-blessed God! 

How dear Thy servants in Thy sight! 
How precious is their blood ! 


How happy all Thy servants are ! 

How great Thy grace to me ! 

My life, which Thou hast made Thy care, 
Lord, I devote to Thee. 


Now I am Thine, forever Thine, 

Nor shall my purpose move; 

Thy hand hath loosed my bonds of pain, 
And bound me with Thy love. 


Here in Thy courts I leave my vow, 
And Thy rich grace record; 

Witness, ye saints, who hear me now, 
If I forsake the Lord. 

— Watts. 


My God ! Thy service well demands 
The remnant of my days; 

Why was this fleeting breath renewed 
But to renew Thy praise ? 



122 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Thine arm of everlasting love 
Did this weak frame sustain, 

When life was hovering o’er the grave, 
And nature sunk with pain. 

Calmly I bowed my fainting head 
On Thy dear faithful breast, 

Pleased to obey my Father’s call 
To His eternal rest. 

Into Thy hands, my Saviour, God ! 

Did I my soul resign, 

In firm dependence on that truth 
Which made salvation mine. 

Back from the borders of the grave 
At Thy command I come, 

Nor would I urge a speedier flight 
To my celestial home. 

Where Thou appointest my abode, 
There would I choose to be, 

For in Thy presence, death is life, 

And earth is heaven with Thee. 

— Doddridge. 



for the Use of the Sick 


123 


PRAYERS 

O most merciful and gracious God, Thou 
fountain of all mercy and blessing, Thou 
hast opened the hand of Thy mercy to fill me 
with blessings and the sweet effects of Thy 
loving-kindness. And now, O Lord, Thou 
hast added this great blessing of a deliverance 
from my late danger; it was Thy hand and 
the help of Thy mercy that relieved me; the 
waters of affliction had drowned me, and the 
stream had gone over my soul, if the Spirit 
of the Lord had not moved upon these waters. 
Thou, O Lord, didst revoke Thy angry sen¬ 
tence which I had deserved, and which was 
gone out against me. Unto thee, O Lord, 
I ascribe the praise and honour of my re¬ 
demption. I will be glad and rejoice in 
Thy mercy, for Thou hast considered my 
trouble, and hast known my soul in adversity. 
As Thou hast spread Thy hand upon me for 
a covering, so also enlarge my heart with 
thankfulness, and fill my mouth with praises, 
that my duty and returns to Thee may be as 
great as my needs of mercy are; and let 
Thy gracious favours and loving-kindness en¬ 
dure for ever and ever upon Thy servant; 



124 


Prayers and Thoughts 


and grant that what Thou hast sown in mercy 
may spring up in duty; that I, living here to 
the glory of Thy name, may at last enter 
into the glory of my Lord, to spend a whole 
eternity in giving praise to Thy exalted and 
ever-glorious name. Amen .—Jeremy Taylor. 

I commend my soul to God my Creator, 
who made me out of nothing; to Jesus Christ, 
my Saviour, who redeemed me with His pre¬ 
cious blood; to the Holy Ghost, the Com¬ 
forter, who sanctified me. Into Thy hands, 
O Lord, I commend my spirit .—Key of 
Heaven. 

O Lord God, Father of mercies, the Foun¬ 
tain of comfort and blessing, of life and 
peace, of plenty and pardon, who fillest 
heaven with Thy glory, and earth with Thy 
goodness; I give Thee the most earnest, and 
most humble returns of my glad and thankful 
heart, for Thou hast refreshed me with Thy 
comforts, and enlarged me with Thy blessing ; 
Thou hast made my flesh and my bones to re¬ 
joice ; for, besides the blessings of all man¬ 
kind, the blessings of nature and the bless¬ 
ings of grace, the support of every minute, 



for the Use of the Sick 


125 


and the comforts of every day, Thou hast 
opened Thy bosom and at this time hast 
poured out an excellent expression of Thy 
loving-kindness upon me. Blessed be the 
Lord, even the Lord God of Israel, which 
only doeth wondrous and gracious things. 
And blessed be the name of His majesty for 
ever; and all the earth shall be filled with 
His majesty. Amen .—Jeremy Taylor. 



Ill 


\ 

Cl)oughts about Beat!) 













PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE 


Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and 
there is none abiding, (i Chronicles, 29.) 

For here have we no continuing city, but 
we seek one to come. (Hebrews, 13.) 

For whether we live, we live unto the 
Lord ; and whether we die, we die unto the 
Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we 
are the Lord’s. (Romans, 14.) 

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a 
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which 
is far better. (Philippians, 1.) 

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and 
afterward receive me to glory. Whom have 
I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon 
earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and 
9 129 


i3° 


Prayers and Thoughts 


my heart faileth : but God is the strength of 
my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalm 
73 -) 

Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe 
in God, believe also in me. In my father’s 
house are many mansions : if it were not so, 

I would have told you. I go to prepare a 
place for you. And if I go and prepare 
a place for you, I will come again and re¬ 
ceive you unto myself; that where I am, 
there ye may be also. And whither I go 
ye know, and the way ye know. (John, 
14.) 

These things saith he that is holy, he that is 
true, he that hath the key of David, he that 
openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, 
and no man openeth; I know thy works : be¬ 
hold, I have set before thee an open door, 
and no man can shut it: for thou hast a 
little strength, and hast kept my word, and 
hast not denied my name. Because thou 
hast kept the word of my patience, I also will 
keep thee from the hour of temptation, which 
shall come upon all the world, to try them 
that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come 



for the Use of the Sick 


! 3 ! 


quickly : hold that fast which thou hast, that 
no man take thy crown. Him that over- 
cometh, will I make a pillar in the temple of 
my God, and he shall go no more out: and 
I will write upon him the name of my 
God, and the name of the city of my God, 
which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down 
out of heaven from my God: and I will 
write upon him my new name. (Revela- 
tion, 3.) 


The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: 
he leadeth me beside the still waters. He re- 
storeth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths 
of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, 
though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou 
art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they com¬ 
fort me. Thou preparest a table before me 
in the presence of mine enemies: thou 
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth 
over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow 
me all the days of my life : and I will dwell 
in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 

23O 



132 


Prayers and Thoughts 


For we know that if our earthly house of 
this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a build¬ 
ing of God, an house not made with hands, 
eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, 
earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with 
our house which is from heaven: if so be 
that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, 
being burdened : not for that we would be un¬ 
clothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might 
be swallowed up of life. Now, he that hath 
wrought us for the self-same thing is God, who 
also hath given unto us the earnest of the 
Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, 
knowing that, whilst we are at home in the 
body, we are absent from the Lord : (for we 
walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confi¬ 
dent, I say, and willing rather to be absent 
from the body, and to be present with the 
Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether 
present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 
(2 Corinthians, 5.) 

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the 
measure of my days, what it is; that I may 
know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast 
made my days as a handbreadth; and mine 



for the Use of the Sick 


•33 


age is as nothing before thee: verily every 
man at his best state is altogether vanity. 
Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: 
surely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth 
up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather 
them. And now, Lord, what wait I for ? my 
hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my 
transgressions: make me not the reproach of 
the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my 
mouth; because thou didst it. Remove thy 
stroke away from me: I am consumed by the 
blow of thine hand. When thou with rebukes 
dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his 
beauty to consume away like a moth : surely 
every man is vanity. Hear my prayer, O 
Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not 
thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger 
with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers 
were. O spare me, that I may recover 
strength, before I go hence, and be no more. 
(Psalm 39.) 



] 34 


Prayers and Thoughts 


PASSAGES OF POETRY 

My God, I know that I must die: 

My mortal life is passing hence; 

On earth I neither hope nor try 
To find a lasting residence. 

Then teach me by Thy heavenly grace 
With joy and peace my death to face. 

My God, I know not when I die; 

What is the moment or the hour; 

How soon the clay may broken lie, 

How quickly pass away the flower: 

Then may Thy child prepared be 
Through time to meet eternity. 

My God, I know not how I die; 

For death has many ways to come, 

In dark mysterious agony, 

Or gently as a sleep to some. 

Just as Thou wilt, if but it be 
To bring me, blessed Lord, to Thee ! 

My God, I know not where I die, 

Where is my grave, beneath what strand; 
Yet from its gloom I do rely 
To die delivered by Thy hand, 

Content, I take what spot is mine, 

Since all the earth, my Lord, is Thine. 



for the Use of the Sick 


135 


My gracious God, when I must die, 

O bear my happy soul above, 

With Christ, my Lord, eternally 
To share Thy glory and Thy love : 

Then comes it right and well to me, 

When, where, and how my death shall be. 

—Benjamin Schmolk. 

Translated by Mrs. Findlater. 


I know my end must surely come, 

But know not when, or where, or how; 
It may be I shall hear my doom 
To-night, to-morrow, nay, or now; 

Ere yet this present hour is fled, 

This living body may be dead. 


Lord Jesus, let me daily die, 

And at the last Thy presence give ; 

Then Death his utmost power may try, 

He can but make me truly live. 

Then welcome my last hour shall be, 

When, where, and how it pleases Thee. 

—Solomon Frank. 

Translated by Miss Winkworth. 



136 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Lord Jesus Christ, true Man and God, 
Who borest anguish, scorn, the rod, 

And diedst at last upon the Tree, 

To bring Thy Father’s grace to me : 

I pray Thee, through that bitter woe, 

Let me, a sinner, mercy know. 

When comes the hour of failing breath, 
And I must wrestle, Lord, with death, 
When from my sight all fades away, 

And when my tongue no more can say, 
And when mine ears no more can hear, 
And when my heart is racked with fear; 

When all my mind is darkened o’er, 

And human help can do no more; 

Then come, Lord Jesus, come with speed, 
And help me in my hour of need; 

Lead me from this dark vale beneath, 

And shorten then the pangs of death. 

Joyful my Resurrection be 

Thou in the Judgment plead for me, 

And hide my sins, Lord, from Thy face, 
And give me Life, of Thy dear grace ! 

I trust Thee utterly, my Lord, 

For Thou hast promised in Thy Word ! 



for the Use of the Sick 


137 


Dear Lord, forgive us all our guilt; 

Help us to wait until Thou wilt 
That we depart; and let our faith 
Be brave, and conquer e’en in death : 
Firm resting on Thy sacred Word, 

Until we sleep in Thee, our Lord. 

—Paul Eber . 

Translated by Miss Winkworth. 


Suffering Son of Man, be near me, 

All my sufferings to sustain, 

By Thy sorer griefs to cheer me, 

By Thy more than mortal pain; 

By Thy fainting in the garden, 

By Thy bloody sweat, I pray, 

Write upon my heart the pardon; 
Take my sins and fears away. 

By the travail of Thy spirit, 

By Thine outcry on the tree, 

By Thine agonizing merit, 

In my pangs, remember me ! 

By Thy death I now implore Thee, 
Lord ! my dying soul befriend; 
Make me lovingly adore Thee, 

Make me faithful to the end. 

— Wesley. 



138 


Prayers and Thoughts 


The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want: 

He makes me down to lie 
In pastures green; He leadeth me 
The quiet waters by. 

My soul He doth restore again; 

And me to walk doth make 
Within the paths of righteousness, 

Ev’n for His own name’s sake. 


Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, 
Yet will I fear no ill; 

For Thou art with me, and Thy rod 
And staff me comfort still. 


My table Thou hast furnished 
In presence of my foes; 

My head Thou dost with oil anoint, 
And my cup overflows. 


Goodness and mercy, all my life, 

Shall surely follow me; 

And in God’s house for evermore 
My dwelling place shall be. 

—Scottish Psalter. 



for the Use of the Sick 


*39 


One sweetly solemn thought 
Comes to me o’er and o’er: 

I’m nearer my home to-day 
Than I ever have been before; 

Nearer my Father’s house, 

Where the many mansions be : 

Nearer the great white throne, 

Nearer the crystal sea; 

Nearer the bound of life, 

Where we lay our burdens down; 

Nearer leaving the cross, 

Nearer gaining the crown. 

But lying darkly between, 

Winding down thro’ the night, 

Is the silent, unknown stream 
That leads at last to the light. 

Oh, if my mortal feet 

Have almost gained the brink, 

If it be I am nearer home 
Even to-day than I think, 

Father ! perfect my trust, 

Let my spirit feel in death 

That her feet are firmly set 
On the Rock of a living faith. 

—Phoebe Cary. 



140 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Though in a foreign land, 

We are not far from home; 

And nearer to our house above 
We every moment come. 

His grace will to the end 
Stronger and brighter shine ; 

Nor present things, nor things to come, 
Shall quench the spark divine. 

Soon shall our doubts and fears 
Subside at His control; 

His loving-kindness shall break through 
The midnight of the soul. 

— Toplady. 


Abide with me; fast falls the eventide : 

The darkness deepens; Lord ! with me abide ; 
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, 
Help of the helpless ! oh ! abide with me. 

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; 
Earth’s joys grow dim ; its glories pass away : 
Change and decay in all around I see : 

O Thou who changest not! abide with me. 



for the Use of the Sick 


141 


Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes ; 
Shine through the gloom, and point me to 
the skies. 

Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain 
shadows flee: 

In life and death, O Lord ! abide with me. 

— H. F. Lyte. 


In the hour of my distress, 

When temptations me oppress, 

And when I my sins confess. 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When I lie within my bed, 

Sick in heart and sick in head, 

And with doubts discomforted, 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When the house doth sigh and weep, 
And the world is drown’d in sleep, 
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep; 
Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When the artless doctor sees 
No one hope, but of his fees, 

And his skill runs on the lees ; 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 




1 4 2 


Prayers and Thoughts 


When his potion and his pill 
Has or none, or little skill, 

Meet for nothing, but to kill; 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When the tapers now burn blue, 

And the comforters are few, 

And that number more than true; 
Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When the priest his last hath pray’d, 
And I nod to what is said, 

’Cause my speech is now decay’d; 
Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When (God knows) I’m toss’d about, 
Either with despair, or doubt; 

Yet before the glass be out, 

Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When the Tempter me pursu’th 
With the sins of all my youth, 

And half damns me with untruth; 
Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

When the Judgment is reveal’d, 

And that open’d which was seal’d, 
When to Thee I have appeal’d;— 
Sweet Spirit, comfort me ! 

—Robert Herrick. 



for the Use of the Sick 


H3 


PEACE 

My soul, there is a country 
Far beyond the stars, 

Where stands a winged sentry 
All skilful in the wars : 

There above noise, and danger, 

Sweet Peace sits crown’d with smiles, 
And One born in a manger 
Commands the beauteous files. 

He is thy gracious Friend, 

And—O my soul, awake !— 

Did in pure love descend, 

To die here for thy sake. 

If thou canst get but thither, 

There grows the flower of Peace, 

The Rose that cannot wither, 

Thy fortress, and thy ease. 

Leave then thy foolish ranges, 

For none can thee secure, 

But One, who never changes, 

Thy God, thy life, thy cure. 

—Henry Vaughan. 



H4 


Prayers and Thoughts 


HERE AND HEREAFTER 

To leave unseen so many a glorious sight, 

To leave so many lands unvisited, 

To leave so many worthiest books unread, 
Unrealized so many visions bright; — 

Oh ! wretched yet inevitable spite, 

Of our brief span, that we must yield our 
breath, 

And wrap us in the unfeeling coil of death, 
So much remaining of unproved delight! 

But hush, my soul, and vain regrets, be still’d ; 
Find rest in Him who is the complement 
Of whatsoe’er transcends our mortal doom, 
Of baffled hope, and unfulfill’d intent; 

In the clear vision and aspect of Whom 
All longings and all hopes shall be fulfill’d. 

— Trench. 


Thou inevitable Day, 

When a voice to me shall say— 

“ Thou must rise and come away; 

* ‘ All thine other journeys past, 
Gird thee, and make ready fast 
For thy longest and thy last— 



for the Use of the Sick 


HS 


Day deep-hidden from our sight 
In impenetrable night, 

Who may guess of thee aright ? 

Art thou distant, art thou near ? 

Wilt thou seem more dark or clear? 
Day with more of hope or fear ? 

Wilt thou come unseen before 
Thou art standing at the door, 

Saying, light and life are o’er? 

Or with such a gradual pace, 

As shall leave me largest space 
To regard thee face to face ? 

Shall I lay my drooping head 
On some loved lap,—round my bed 
Prayer be made and tears be shed ? 

Or at distance from mine own, 

Name and kin alike unknown, 

Make my solitary moan ? 

Wilt there yet be things to leave, 
Hearts to which this heart must cleave, 
From which parting it must grieve ? 
io 



146 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Or shall life’s best ties be o’er, 

And all loved ones gone before 
To that other happier shore ? 

Shall I gently fall on sleep, 

Death, like slumber, o’er me creep, 
Like a slumber sweet and deep ? 

Or the soul long strive in vain, 

To escape, with toil and pain, 

From its half-divided chain ? 

Little skills it where or how, 

If thou comest then or now, 

With a smooth or angry brow; 

Come thou must, and we must die— 
JESUS ! Saviour ! stand Thou by, 
When that last sleep seals our eye ! 

— Trench. 



for the Use of the Sick 


HI 


PRAYERS 

And now, Lord, what is my hope ? Truly, 
my hope is even in Thee. Though I walk 
through the valley of the shadow of death, yet I 
will fear no evil. Lord, Thou knowest where¬ 
of we be made ; Thou rememberest that we 
are but dust. I am Thine, O save me ! Be¬ 
hold, O Lord, how that I am Thy servant, and 
the son of Thine handmaid; Thine unprofit¬ 
able servant, yet Thy servant; Thy lost prod¬ 
igal child, yet Thy child. Lord, I am created 
in Thine own image. Suffer not Thine own 
image to be utterly defaced, but renew it again 
in righteousness and true holiness. Into Thine 
hands I commend myself, for Thou hast re¬ 
deemed me, Thou God of Truth. Amen.— 
Lancelot Andrews. 


O King of Glory, bring us all home, I 
pray Thee, by grace unto glory. Let our 
light affliction which is but for a moment 
work for us a far more exceeding and eternal 
weight of glory. Amen. — Christina G. Ros¬ 
setti. 



148 


Prayers and Thoughts 


O Lord our God, keep us from all darkness 
except such as our own foolishness brings 
over us. Let us remember that there is no 
darkness with Thee. Let us have but one 
thing to be afraid of—the death of the spirit. 
Let there be but one thing that we shrink 
from—unlovingness towards Thee and our 
brother. And when the storm is loud, and 
the night is dark, and the soul is sad, and the 
heart oppressed ; then, as weary travellers, 
may we look to Thee; and beholding the 
light of Thy love, may it bear us on, until we 
learn to sing Thy song in the night. And 
when the last chill stream of death shall be 
crossed, grant that ours may be the Delecta¬ 
ble Mountains, the company of faithful souls, 
the eternal years, the everlasting life. Of 
Thy great mercy hear our supplications, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.— 
George Dawson. 

Living or dying, Lord, I would be Thine; 
keep me Thine own for ever, and draw me 
day by day nearer to Thyself, until I be 
wholly filled with Thy love, and fitted to 
behold Thee, face to face. Amen.— E. B. 
Pusey. 



for the Use of the Sick 


H9 


Help, O Lord Jesus Christ, that, in this 
my last extremity, 1 may joyfully overcome 
by Thy grace. Uphold me in true faith, and 
comfort me with Thy Spirit when my end 
shall come, that even in death I may not be 
severed from Thee. O Lord, to Thee I com¬ 
mend my soul which Thou hast purchased 
with Thy precious blood. Amen. 

O Thou ever-faithful God, shorten to me 
the agonies of death, and vouchsafe a peace¬ 
ful and happy end, according to Thy loving¬ 
kindnesses as they have been ever of old, that 
I may thank and praise Thee for Thy mercy 
for ever and ever. Amen .—Lutheran Church 
Book. 

O Thou true Saviour, Jesus Christ! Thou 
Who art the Lamb of God that takest away 
the sin of the world, and hast washed and 
cleansed me in Thy blood: I beseech Thee, 
by Thy bitter Passion, and especially by what 
Thou didst suffer when Thy soul passed out 
of the body, have mercy upon my poor soul 
in the hour of its departure, and bring me to 
life everlasting; Thou Who livest and reign- 
est for ever and ever. Amen. 



150 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Heavenly and eternal Father, Source of all 
being, from whom I spring, unto whom I 
shall return,—Thine I shall ever be. Thou 
wilt call me unto Thyself when my hour 
comes. Blessed shall I then be if I can say, 
“ I have fought a good fight.” I fear not 
death, O Father of life ; for death is not 
eternal sleep, it is the transition to a new life, 
a moment of glorious transformation, an as¬ 
cension towards Thee. How could that be 
an evil that cometh from Thy hand, when 
Thou art the All-good? Lord of life and 
death, I am in Thy hand ; do unto me as Thou 
deemest fit; for what Thou dost is well done. 
When Thou didst call me from nothing into 
life, Thou didst will my happiness; when 
Thou callest me away from life, will my hap¬ 
piness be less Thy care ? No, no, Thou art 
love, and whosoever dwells in love, dwells in 
Thee, O Lord, and Thou in him. Amen.— 
Heinrich Zschokke . 

Almighty, everlasting, and most merciful 
God, Thou Who dost summon and take us out 
of this sinful and corrupt world to Thyself 
through death, that we may not perish by 
continual sinning, but pass through death to 



for the Use of the Sick 


151 


life eternal: Help us, we beseech Thee, to 
know and believe this with our whole heart, 
to the end that we may rejoice in our,depart- 
ure, and at Thy call cheerfully enter into 
Thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus 
Christ Thy Son our Lord. Amen .—Lutheran 
Church Book. 

O Lord, teach me to consider that I must 
die, and that here I have no continuing city. 
Make me mindful of the shortness and vanity 
of my life, that I may think much upon mine 
end, and live and die in this world, not to 
myself, but to Thee ; so that in cheerful faith 
I may look for the day of my departure and 
the appearing of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and 
hasten unto the same by a holy walk and a 
godly life ; through Jesus Christ my Lord 
and Saviour. Amen .—Lutheran Church Book. 

O Lord Jesus! Since Thou hast hidden 
from me the day and hour when I shall be 
called away from earth, teach me to be ready 
at every moment, that I may willingly leave this 
world, depart in peace, and with Thee and all 
the elect keep the Sabbath of eternal rest; Thou 
Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost 
livest and reignest, world without end. Amen. 



152 


Prayers and Thoughts 


The following selections are from the works of 
Jeremy Taylor: 

Lord, preserve me in the unity of Thy holy 
Church, in the love of God and of my neigh¬ 
bors. Let Thy grace enlarge my heart to re¬ 
member, faithfully to use, wisely to improve, 
and humbly to give thanks to Thee for all 
Thy favours, with which Thou hast enriched 
my soul, and preserved my person, and res¬ 
cued me from danger, and invited me to 
goodness in all the days and periods of my 
life. Thou hast led me through it with an 
excellent conduct; and I have gone astray 
after the manner of men; but my heart is 
towards Thee. O do unto Thy servant, as 
Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy 
name : let Thy truth comfort me, Thy mercy 
deliver me, Thy staff support me, Thy grace 
sanctify my sorrow, and Thy goodness pardon 
all my sins; Thy angels guide me with safety 
in this shadow of death, and Thy most Holy 
Spirit lead me into the land of righteousness, 
for Thy name’s sake, which is so comfortable, 
and for Jesus Christ’s sake, our dearest Lord 
and most gracious Saviour. Amen. 



for the Use of the Sick 


*53 


A PRAYER FOR A HOLY AND HAPPY DEATH 

O Eternal and Holy Jesus, who by death 
hast overcome death, and by Thy passion 
hast taken out its sting, and made it to be¬ 
come one of the gates of heaven, and an 
entrance to felicity, have mercy upon me 
now, and at the hour of my death. Let Thy 
grace accompany me all the days of my life, 
that I may, by a holy conversation and a 
habitual performance of my duty, wait for 
the coming of our Lord, and be ready to 
enter with Thee at whatsoever hour Thou 
shalt come. Lord, let not my death be in 
any sense unprovided, nor untimely, nor 
hasty, but after the manner of men, having 
in it nothing extraordinary, but an extra¬ 
ordinary piety, and the manifestation of a 
great and miraculous mercy. Let my senses 
and my understanding be preserved entire 
till the last of my days; and grant that I 
may die the death of the righteous, free from 
debt and deadly sin, having first discharged 
all my obligations of justice, leaving none 
miserable and unprovided in my departure; 
but be Thou the portion of all my friends and 
relatives, and let Thy blessing descend upon 



154 


Prayers and Thoughts 


their heads, and abide there, till they shall 
meet me in the bosom of our Lord. Pre¬ 
serve me ever in the communion and peace 
of the church; and bless my death-bed with 
the opportunity of a holy and a spiritual guide, 
with the assistance and guard of angels, with 
the reception of the holy sacrament, with 
patience and dereliction of my own desires, 
with a strong faith and a firm and humbled 
hope, with just measures of repentance, and 
great treasures of charity to Thee, my God, 
and to all the world; that my soul, in the 
arms of the holy Jesus, may be deposited 
with safety and joy, there to expect the 
revelation of Thy day, and then to partake 
the glories of Thy kingdom, O eternal and 
holy Jesus. Amen. 

A MEDITATION OF DEATH AND A PRAYER PRE¬ 
PARATORY TO IT 

O Eternal God, whose being was before 
the mountains were brought forth, before the 
earth and the world were made, even from 
everlasting and world without end,—have 
mercy upon us weak and impotent people, 
the children of men, who fade away suddenly 
like the grass; remove our misdeeds from 



for the Use of the Sick 


i S5 

before Thee, and our secret sins from the 
sight of Thy countenance : be not angry with 
us, neither consume us in Thy displeasure: 
teach us to number all the days of our life, 
and to reckon on still to the day of death; 
that when our days are gone, and our years 
are brought to an end like a tale that is told, 
Thou mayest turn unto us at the last, and be 
gracious unto us in the pardon of our sins, in 
restraining the power and malice of all our 
ghostly enemies, in giving us opportunity of 
all spiritual assistance and advantages; that 
our lamps being trimmed and burning bright 
with charity and devotion, we may enter into 
the bride-chamber, there forever to behold 
the glorious majesty of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. Amen. 

IN ALL SADNESS AND IN THE HOUR OF DEATH 

O Lord God, Thou art our hope, and our 
portion in the land of the living; consider 
our complaint and misery : Thou art our place 
to flee unto, Thou only art our sanctuary. 
O hide us under the covert of Thy wings; 
keep us from all the dangers which multiply 
upon us, when our spirits are in heaviness 
and our bodies pressed with infirmities: be 



156 


Prayers and Thoughts 


Thou always at our right hand, and assist us 
so with the strength of Thy grace, that our 
temptations and our enemies not being above 
our strength derived from Thee, our souls 
may with confidence go out of prison, and 
give eternal thanks unto Thy name in the 
companies of the righteous; through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR A BLESSED ENDING TO BE SAID 
IN TIME OF HEALTH AND SICKNESS 

O blessed Jesu, Fountain of eternal mercy, 
the Life of the soul, and glorious Conqueror 
over death and sin, I humbly beseech Thee 
to give me grace so to spend this transitory 
life in virtuous and holy exercises, that when 
the day of my death shall come, in the midst 
of all my pains I may feel the sweet refresh¬ 
ings of Thy Holy Spirit comforting my soul, 
sustaining mine infirmities, and relieving all 
my spiritual necessities; and grant that in 
the unity of the holy catholic church, and in 
the integrity of Christian faith, with confi¬ 
dence and hope of Thy mercy, in great love 
towards Thee, in peace with my neighbors, 
and in charity with all the world, I may, 
through Thy grace, depart hence out of this 



for the Use of the Sick 


1 57 


vale of misery, and go unto that glorious 
country, where Thou hast purchased an in¬ 
heritance for us with the price of Thy most 
precious blood, and reignest in it gloriously 
in the unity of Thy Father and ours, and 
Thy Holy Spirit and our ghostly Comforter, 
ever one God, world without end. Amen. 

O be merciful unto us in the day of our 
calamity, and of Thy visitation; strengthen 
our faith in the day of our sicknesses and 
trial, when the cloud is thick, and the storm 
is great; that we may rely upon Thy grace, 
invocate Thy mercies, hope in Thy good¬ 
ness, and receive the end of our hopes, the 
salvation of our souls. O let us never de¬ 
scend into the dwellings of the wicked, nor 
into the place of them that know not God: 
but be pleased here to guide us with Thy 
counsel, and after that receive us with glory, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

O eternal God, Thou Fountain of life and 
pardon, there is no number of Thy days nor 
of Thy mercies; be merciful unto us now 
and at the hour of our death; let not Thy 
servants be arrested with sudden death, that 



>58 


Prayers and Thoughts 


we be neither unready in our accounts, nor 
snatched hence with an imperfect duty, nor sur¬ 
prised in an act of sin, nor called upon when 
our lamps are untrimmed; let it be neither 
violent nor untimely, hasty nor unblessed; 
but after the ordinary visitation of men, hav¬ 
ing in it an excellent patience and an exemplar 
of piety, and the greatest senses and demon¬ 
strations of Thy eternal mercies. Preserve, O 
God, our reason and religion, our faith and 
our hope, our sense and our speech, perfect 
and useful till the last of our days ; and grant 
that we may die the death of the righteous, 
and let our last end be like to his. 

Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our 
hearts; shut not up Thy merciful eyes and 
ears unto our prayers; but spare us, O Lord 
most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and 
merciful Saviour, Thou most worthy judge 
eternal, suffer us not at our last hour, for any 
pains of death, to fall from Thee; but 
strengthen us with a mighty grace, and sup¬ 
port us with an infinite mercy, giving us per¬ 
fect measures of repentance and great treas¬ 
ures of charity, that, at the general resurrection 
in the last day, we may be found acceptable 




for the Use of the Sick 


»59 


in Thy sight, and receive that blessing which 
Thy well-beloved Son shall then pronounce 
to all them that love and fear Thee, saying, 
tl Come, ye blessed children of my Father, 
receive the kingdom prepared for you from 
the beginning of the world.” This mercy, 
O most merciful Father, vouchsafe to give 
unto us and all Thy servants, through Jesus 
Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen. 

A PRAYER TO BE SAID BY A PERSON APT TO 
BE AFFLICTED WITH FEAR OF DEATH 

O my dearest Saviour, take from Thy ser¬ 
vant all inordinate fear of death, and give 
me a great desire after heaven and heavenly 
things: and when Thou shalt call me from 
this world, conduct me by the graces and 
comforts of Thy Holy Spirit evenly and 
holily, certainly and cheerfully, to the re¬ 
gions of hope and joy, that in Thy arms I 
may expect and long for the day of recom¬ 
penses and of Thy glorious appearing. O 
God, hear the prayer and most passionate de¬ 
sires of Thy servant: and since Thou hast com¬ 
manded us in time of need to come with 
boldness to the throne of grace, grant that I 
may be accepted by Thy mercies and loving- 



i6o 


Prayers and Thoughts 


kindness, through the merits and intercession 
of my Lord, in whom I desire to live, and 
for whom I will not refuse to die,—our 
blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus; to whom 
with Thee, O blessed Father, and most Holy 
Spirit, I humbly give all honor, and thanks, 
and glory, and love, and service; and desire 
to do so for ever. Amen. 

I know, O Lord, I am here but as a so¬ 
journer in a strange land, and not as a citizen 
in my own country. I am here but a tenant 
at will, and must shortly depart; for here I 
have no continuing city; but I must seek one 
to come, eternal in the heaven; where I 
shall bear a part in the heavenly quire with 
angels, evermore praising Thy holy name; 
there I shall behold light incomprehensible, 
where I shall be in no fear of death. Fare¬ 
well, then, all the world, and all the things 
in it; “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be 
done;” now I am blessed, O Lord, for I 
shall dwell in Thy house, and shall still be 
praising Thee. 

O eternal God, who dwellest in eternity, 
whose power is eternal, and whose kingdom 



for the Use of the Sick 


161 


is the kingdom of all ages ! Take me by Thy 
right hand, O Lord; conduct me to Thy 
eternal glory: let me esteem all things as 
nothing, in respect of eternity. Grant, O 
Lord, that I may so pass through things 
temporal, that I do not finally lose the things 
eternal. Amen. 

Whatsoever misery or affliction shall fall 
upon thee, say, “By the Divine assistance, I 
will bear it patiently; Lord Jesu, stand by 
me, and comfort me; Lord Jesu, be present 
with Thy servant, that putteth his trust in 
Thee ; receive my spirit, and lead me through 
the valley and shadow of death; lead me, 
and forsake me not, until Thou hast brought 
my soul into the land of the living, O Thou 
which art my light, life, and salvation !” 


THE END 






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